PubMed · 2026-04-01
A major global health study found that lung infections killed 2.5 million people in 2023, with bacterial pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae responsible for the most deaths. While child deaths have dropped since 2010, progress remains far too slow in sub-Saharan Africa and among older adults.
Lower respiratory infections caused 2.5 million deaths and 98.7 million disability-adjusted life years globally in 2023.
Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 25.3% of all LRI deaths (634,000), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (10.9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%).
Child deaths from lung infections dropped 33.4% since 2010, yet 75 of 204 countries still exceed the global target of fewer than 60 deaths per 100,000 children under 5.