WHO Reports Decline in Road Deaths by 21%

Despite the addition of more than one billion motor vehicles to the world’s roads, road traffic deaths declined by 21% between 2011 and 2025, according to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

 

The world has experienced changes in road traffic during this time, with the emergence of new modes of transport and a sharp rise in motorcycle use. 

Despite this progress, however, road traffic crashes still claimed 1.16 million people’s lives in 2025. Road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death among children and youth aged 5–29 years. 

 

The new WHO data comes as global leaders adopt a new United Nations (UN) General Assembly progress declaration on road safety. 

 

The declaration aims to boost global action to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 compared with the levels in 2021.


The new UN declaration includes a comprehensive set of commitments by UN Member States to implement national road safety strategies with clear targets, timelines and budgets. These commitments include establishing lead road safety agencies, improving data collection and analysis, developing and enforcing stronger legislation, and ensuring that roads, infrastructure and vehicles meet key safety standards. 

 

The declaration commits countries to implementing the proven ‘safe system’ approach, which recognizes that people will always make mistakes on the road. 

The approach promotes safer roads, infrastructure, vehicles, speed limits and regulations that account for human error and ensure that crash impacts remain within survivable levels. It also calls on governments to provide leadership and take additional action, and urges the private sector to prioritize road safety throughout their supply chains. 

 

The declaration also highlights the important roles of civil society, academia, youth, philanthropic organizations and the UN in driving progress.



With nearly 60% of the world’s population now living in urban areas, growing demand for mobility threatens to overwhelm transport systems that were largely designed around private motor vehicles.

 

 With the rise of ride-hailing and delivery apps, the number of motorcycles more than tripled between 2011 and 2025. Deaths among motorcyclists now account for nearly a third of the world’s road fatalities.


Yet progress is uneven, with a 36% drop in deaths in the WHO European Region, a 15% drop in the Western Pacific Region, a 2% drop in the WHO South-East Asian Region, no change in rates in the Americas and a 17% rise in deaths in the WHO African Region.

 

 The new UN declaration states that strengthening road safety is key to improving public health and sustainable development overall. More people choosing to walk, cycle and use public transport can reduce congestion, improve air quality, create more livable cities, and support healthier, longer lives, experts at the WHO say.