The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a new resource aimed at enhancing the understanding of sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence, particularly in low- and middle-income nations.
The STI Prevalence Atlas, recently unveiled, compiles data on five prevalent STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus type 2 (the primary cause of genital herpes), syphilis, and trichomoniasis. This atlas incorporates published and unpublished STI prevalence data from 766 studies, encompassing 2,453 distinct prevalence data points collected between 2010 and January 23, 2026. The resource will be consistently updated as new information becomes available.
The compiled data originates from over 130 countries and covers a broad spectrum of settings and demographics, including data from household surveys and studies focused on pregnant women, sex workers, and individuals attending STI clinics. According to the WHO, the evidence within this database offers insights into STI epidemiology across both general and higher-risk populations.
This data has the potential to inform targeted interventions. The WHO periodically publishes global and regional estimates for common STIs. For instance, data from 2020 indicated an estimated 374 million new infections among individuals aged 15 to 49 with one of four curable STIs (chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis), translating to over a million daily new infections. The same year, an estimated 520 million people were living with genital herpes.
In low- and middle-income countries, STIs often go undiagnosed due to the limited availability or high cost and accessibility issues of diagnostic tests. Beyond the immediate effects of infection, STIs such as herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis can heighten the risk of acquiring HIV. Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia are significant contributors to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women. Additionally, STIs can be transmitted from pregnant women to their newborns.
WHO officials express optimism that this database will help address the scarcity of reliable country- and population-specific STI data, especially in resource-limited settings.
"This database marks a significant advancement in our capacity to comprehend the scope of sexually transmitted infections across varied populations and environments," stated Tereza Kasaeva, MD, PhD, director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs, in a press release. "By providing open access to this data, we are empowering countries and their partners with the necessary evidence to develop precise interventions, reinforce surveillance systems, and accelerate progress toward mitigating the global impact of STIs."