Global Viral Hepatitis

At a glance

Viral hepatitis affects more than 300 million people globally.1 Most people are not diagnosed or getting the treatment they need. Each day, 3,500 people die from liver disease caused by viral hepatitis worldwide. 2 Safe and effective vaccines, prevention, and treatments can avert liver disease and cancer caused by viral hepatitis. Increasing intervention and prevention methods can save money and lives.

Triptych of three groups of individuals affected by hepatitis worldwide

Viral hepatitis worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that during 2022:

  • 1.2 million people were newly infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
  • 1 million people were newly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  • Approximately 254 million people have chronic hepatitis B.
  • Nearly 50 million people have chronic hepatitis C.
  • Chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C cause 1.3 million deaths each year due to liver disease and cancer.

Did you know?‎

Outbreaks of hepatitis A and hepatitis E occur worldwide, particularly in parts of the world with poor sanitation. Although they result in short-term infection, they can still be severe, causing liver damage and death.
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Color-coded map showing hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections worldwide.
Estimates of the burden of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C by WHO region, 2022.

Source: World Health Organization — Global hepatitis report 2024: Action for access in low- and middle-income countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024.

Current status of prevention and treatment

There are safe and effective vaccines against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, treatment for hepatitis B, and curative treatment for hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A prevention

Hepatitis A vaccine (HepA) has the potential to control outbreaks and prevent disease and death. In 2022, however, HepA vaccine was only used in 46 countries.

Keep Reading: Hepatitis A Prevention and Control

Hepatitis B prevention

Universal hepatitis B vaccination (HepB) of all infants beginning at birth provides a critical safeguard and prevents infection among infants born to people with HBV. In 2022, however, the global coverage of the birth dose was only 45% of infants, and 84% of children globally received three doses of HepB vaccine.

Keep Reading: Hepatitis B Prevention and Control

To learn more about what CDC is doing to prevent the primary source of chronic hepatitis B, see What CDC Is Doing on Global Hepatitis B Vaccination.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C treatment

Safe and effective treatments can prevent liver disease and liver cancer among people with hepatitis B and cure those living with hepatitis C. Most people with these infections, however, remain undiagnosed and untreated.

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Bar chart showing percentage of persons diagnosed vs. persons treated for hepatitis B and hepatitis C in 2022.
Percentages of persons estimated to have hepatitis B and hepatitis C who were diagnosed and treated worldwide in 2022.

Source: World Health Organization — Global hepatitis report 2024: Action for access in low- and middle-income countries. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024.

To learn more about how CDC is working globally to eliminate global death and disease caused by viral hepatitis, see CDC Collaborates Worldwide to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis.

Benefits of global hepatitis B elimination

Issue

  • Without increased coverage of vaccination, diagnosis, and treatment, hepatitis B mortality is estimated to cost $784 billion globally in lost productivity during 2022–2050.1

Solutions and benefits

Benefits of global hepatitis C elimination

Issue

  • Most people with hepatitis C go undiagnosed and untreated, yet safe and affordable treatments are available and cure over 95% of people diagnosed with hepatitis C.
  • Preventing premature deaths and increasing workforce participation among people who are cured could provide substantial economic benefits.

Solutions and benefits

  • The economic benefit generated from the efforts above is estimated at $22 billion by 20302.
  • Scaling up hepatitis C testing to 90% and treatment to 80% are estimated to potentially prevent 2.1 million hepatitis C-related deaths and 10 million new infections globally.

Resources

Division of Viral Hepatitis — learn more about:

CDC

World Health Organization

  • Global Hepatitis Program
    • This WHO program leads the development and implementation of the global health sector strategy on the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat.
  • Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination
    • The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination is a nonprofit founded in 2019 as a program of The Task Force for Global Health. The Coalition pursues worldwide elimination of viral hepatitis by strengthening capacity at the local level, bringing together global partners to share knowledge, data, and experiences related to hepatitis prevention, testing, and care and treatment.
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Division of Viral Hepatitis
  1. Seaman CP, Luong P, Xiao Y, et al. A global investment case for hepatitis B elimination: a modeling study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023;8:932–942.
  2. Scott N, Kuschel C, Pedrana A, Schroeder S, Howell J, Thompson A, Wilson DP, Hellard M. A model of the economic benefits of global hepatitis C elimination: an investment case. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Oct;5(10):940–947.