New World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF data reveal about 29 million children remain under-protected against measles with the number of unvaccinated children falling by 173,000 since 2024, underscoring the need for global coordination and health system strengthening to meet 2030 measles elimination targets
Measles has long served as an early warning system for public health vulnerabilities. As one of the most contagious diseases in existence and one that requires near-universal vaccine coverage to stop transmission, how a country manages the disease is a clear marker of broader strengths or weaknesses in its health system. With the number of measles outbreaks rising around the world and vaccination coverage slipping, these cracks are being exposed.
New data released today as part of the 2025 WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) reveals plateauing measles vaccination coverage while highlighting a persistent drop-out in the proportion of children who get the second of two required measles doses for immunity. Communities need 95% vaccination coverage to prevent measles outbreaks, avert unnecessary deaths, and reach elimination. Global coverage for the first measles vaccine dose held steady at 84% in 2025 compared to the year before—still struggling to regain its pre-pandemic coverage levels—while second-dose coverage increased slightly to 77%.
These coverage gaps come amid continual outbreaks, with nearly 3 in 4 infants globally (74%) living in countries that have experienced a measles outbreak in the past 5 years. This year’s figures illustrate that many children start their measles vaccinations but do not finish them—pointing to a continual challenge keeping families engaged in their health care systems.
The dataset, which WHO and UNICEF release annually, is the most comprehensive measurement of immunization coverage and analyzes 195 countries. This year’s insights show tangible progress. From 2000 to 2025, the share of children fully protected against measles has climbed from 17% to 77%. Close to 1 million more children received their second dose in 2025 than the year before. Even so, about 29 million children remain under-protected globally—20.8 million children have not received their first dose of their measles vaccination and another 8.3 million are missing their second dose.
Rubella vaccines are often delivered in tandem with measles immunizations. By the end of 2025, rubella vaccines were introduced nationwide in 179 Member States, including one at the subnational level. Global coverage for rubella vaccinations was estimated at 73%. However, there are huge variations by region, with the South East Asia region at 96% and the African region at 41%.
Regional and country-level findings on measles immunizations offer additional nuance. For the first time, India has dropped out of the top 10 countries for zero-dose children, signifying that the country’s health system is getting stronger. Meanwhile, Nigeria—the country with the most children unvaccinated against measles—recently conducted one of the largest integrated vaccination campaigns to address measles alongside rubella and polio. In contrast, some countries with long-standing success in fighting measles are feeling a strain, with many middle- and high-income countries experiencing outbreaks or at risk of losing elimination status.
Deep inequities in prevention also persist. Countries with lower incomes, those in active conflict zones, and those experiencing climate-related disasters continue to lag in measles coverage. Across antigens, over half of all zero-dose children live in fragile, conflict, and vulnerable settings even though they account for roughly one-third of the world’s births.
“The world has made incredible progress toward eliminating measles over the past 25 years, but more aggressive action is needed to reach IA2030 elimination targets,” said Dr. Santosh Gurung, co-chair of the Measles & Rubella Partnership (M&RP) and a Technical Officer, Measles and Rubella Control at the WHO Department of Immunization. “That starts with measles programs, which set the stage for so many other antigens and health issues. If we can ensure more children receive both vaccine doses, we can lay the foundation for a lifetime of trust and engagement with their health care providers.”
Though the data paint a challenging picture, leaders at every level have the tools to change the course. M&RP encourages them to prioritize these effective, evidence-based strategies:
- Sustaining and increasing funding: As competition for resources heightens, leaders must continue to invest in the infrastructure and programs that keep immunization, surveillance, and preventative measures both effective and resilient.
- Investing in outbreak prevention and response: While preventing outbreaks is the goal, appropriate disease surveillance, swift monitoring, and a timely response can stop them before they spread. Strategies that proactively address cross-border spread, funding access and shortfalls, and immunity gaps in fragile and under-resourced communities can set communities up for success.
- Strengthening routine immunization and health systems: Sustained, consistent improvements in routine immunization—paired with supplemental immunization campaigns, broad health system strengthening, and functioning disease surveillance—remain some of the most reliable ways to detect and curb transmission.
- Scaling integrated strategies: In a resource-constrained world, campaigns that combine measles vaccination with other antigens and health services can expand coverage efficiently.
“Now more than ever, we must mobilize resources to protect at-risk communities. If we don’t, decades of hard-fought progress are on the verge of unraveling,” said Dr. Ahmadu Yakubu, co-chair of M&RP and Senior Adviser Health and Team Lead of Accelerated Immunization Initiatives and Emergencies with the UNICEF Immunization Section. “This new WUENIC data reinforces the need for global, regional, and country leaders to prioritize measles and rubella programs by investing in efforts that are people-focused, country-owned, partnership-based, and data-enabled.”
Access the full dataset, including data on measles and rubella, through the global dashboard, country profiles, and additional resources.
The Measles & Rubella Partnership (M&RP) is a global initiative to lead and coordinate efforts to achieve a world without measles and rubella. M&RP is led by the American Red Cross, the Gates Foundation, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
Photo Credit: © WHO / Francine TCHOUTA
Photo Caption: A measles vaccination campaign takes place in Burkina Faso with a child being vaccinated against measles at a refugee site in the North-Central region.
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