The World Health Organisation says Nigeria and nine other countries accounted for the majority of global hepatitis deaths in 2024. The figures were released in the 2026 global hepatitis report at the World Hepatitis Summit.
According to the report, hepatitis B and C caused about 1.34 million deaths worldwide, with 10 countries responsible for 69 per cent of hepatitis B deaths and 58 per cent of hepatitis C fatalities. Nigeria is listed among both groups.
The WHO says about 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis infections in 2024, with 1.8 million new cases recorded annually. It added that the African region accounts for most new hepatitis B infections, but vaccination rates remain low.
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The organisation says that although infections and deaths have declined in recent years, progress is still too slow to meet global elimination targets by 2030, and it is urging countries to expand vaccination, testing and treatment programmes.
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