WHO: World report on social determinants of health equity (6 May 2025)

Summary

WHO World report on social determinants of health equity confirms that our health and wellbeing depends on much more than our genes and access to health care. To reduce these avoidable and unjust health gaps we must address the non-medical root causes that shape most of our health and wellbeing.

Content

Unacceptable gaps persist in how long people can expect to live healthy lives depending on where they live, the communities they belong to, their education level, their race and ethnicity, their income and wealth, their gender and whether they have a disability. The social determinants of health equity - that is, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and people’s access to power, money, and resources—have a powerful influence on these avoidable and unjust health gaps.

This comprehensive World report on social determinants of health equity, as requested by resolution WHA74.16, reviews the insufficient progress on meeting the Commission on Social Determinants of Health’s targets on achieving health equity and focuses the narrative and action agenda on what produces and reproduces health inequities and what proven policy remedies are available.

The report includes 14 specific recommendations for action within four action areas. Country examples throughout the report showcase actions and diverse strategies for actioning the report’s recommendations across different contexts. The report aims to inform global, national and local policymaking, providing a foundation for coordinated action and investment in social determinants of health equity. The report was developed with input from scientific and policy advisory groups, commissioned papers and evidence reviews, extensive internal contributions across the three levels of WHO, and consultation with Member States through the Executive Board and World Health Assembly.