Childhood Immunization in 2025: UNICEF and WHO Report 85% DTP3 Coverage and 13.5 Million Zero-Dose Children

UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) report that 85% of infants worldwide received three doses of the DTP vaccine in 2025, and that 13.5 million children received no vaccine at all in their first year. The estimates, known as WUENIC, were released on July 14, 2026. This article on childhood immunization in 2025 summarizes the UNICEF and WHO announcement, shows how the coverage numbers relate to each other and explains what they do and do not show.

What are the main coverage figures?

The announcement reports these 2025 global coverage levels:

• First dose of DTP (DTP1): 90% of infants, nearly 116 million
• Third dose of DTP (DTP3): 85%, about 110 million completing the series
• First dose of measles vaccine (MCV1): 84%
• Second dose of measles vaccine (MCV2): 77%

DTP1 and DTP3 each rose one percentage point from 2024, but both remain one point below 2019 levels. Our entry on the vaccine explains how vaccines work in general terms.

What is a zero-dose child?

A zero-dose child is one who received no vaccine in the first year of life. UNICEF and WHO count 13.5 million such children in 2025, nearly 750,000 fewer than the year before. More than half live in fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable settings, which hold about a third of the world’s children. By our own arithmetic, the previous year’s count was therefore about 14.25 million. The release does not name the countries with the most zero-dose children, so we do not list them.

Why does measles coverage matter so much?

The announcement says 95% coverage is needed to prevent measles outbreaks, and that 57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2025. The global MCV1 figure is 84% and MCV2 is 77%. By our own arithmetic, MCV1 is 11 points below the 95% mark and MCV2 is 18 points below it. Our entry on herd immunity explains why a high share of immunized people protects a community. About 7.3 million infants received a first DTP dose but no first measles dose.

Which regions and countries stood out?

The Americas and South-East Asia have fully recovered to their 2019 levels, and South-East Asia is now the top-performing region. The Western Pacific declined and is furthest below its 2019 baseline. At country level, the release reports that Sudan gained 35 points on DTP1 and 22 on MCV1, the largest single-country gain, while Syria lost 6 points on DTP1 and 12 on MCV1. South Africa’s DTP1 is down 20 points since 2019, and Bosnia and Herzegovina dropped 23 points on MCV1 in the past year. Our entries on Sudan and Syria provide background on those countries.

How many countries are on track?

The announcement says 100 countries have kept DTP3 at or above 90% since 2019. Of the countries below 90% in 2019, 30 improved, and 65 are stagnating or falling behind, including 13 fragile or conflict-affected countries. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said millions of vulnerable children are still left unprotected because of conflict, displacement and poverty. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar said the challenge now is to maintain momentum in the face of funding constraints.

How good is the underlying data?

WUENIC estimates combine official country reports with survey data. The release notes that only 18 national immunization surveys were submitted this round, down from 50 in 2024 and an average of 33 per year in 2015 to 2019. Fewer surveys means less independent checking of the estimates. The release also gives two different counts of countries, 195 in one place and 185 in another, so we avoid citing a single number of countries. Our entry on epidemiology explains how health data are used in public health.

What does the recovery look like?

The release describes a mixed picture rather than a full return to earlier levels. Two regions have fully recovered, one has fallen further below its 2019 baseline, and 65 countries that were below 90% DTP3 coverage in 2019 are stagnating or falling behind. At the same time, 100 countries have held DTP3 at or above 90% since 2019. Those two facts coexist: global coverage inched forward by a point while the countries with the greatest need remain those most affected by fragility and conflict. The release does not give a date by which the world is expected to close the gap.

How to read the numbers

The gap between DTP1 at 90% and DTP3 at 85% is five points, which reflects children who start the series but do not finish it. Coverage is a percentage of children in a birth cohort, while zero-dose is a count, so both can improve at once. A one-point rise may sound small but represents a large number of children when applied to the world’s infants. Because the figures are estimates, small changes may fall within the margin of uncertainty. These reading points are general and are not statements from UNICEF or WHO. This article reports statistics and is not medical advice.

Glossary

• WUENIC: the WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage
• DTP: the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine series
• MCV: measles-containing vaccine
• Zero-dose: having received no routine vaccine
• Outbreak threshold: the coverage level needed to prevent widespread outbreaks

The definitions of DTP, MCV and WUENIC are general explanations and are not quoted from the announcement.

What is not covered here?

The announcement does not report HPV vaccine coverage, give a numeric zero-dose reduction target or name the countries with the most zero-dose children. We have left them out. Readers who want country tables should consult the WUENIC data from WHO and UNICEF.

Key facts at a glance

• DTP3 coverage: 85% in 2025
• MCV1: 84%, and MCV2: 77%
• Zero-dose children: 13.5 million
• Countries with large measles outbreaks in 2025: 57
• Release date: July 14, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What does 85% DTP3 mean?

About 85% of infants worldwide completed the three-dose DTP series in 2025.

Is coverage back to pre-2019 levels?

Not globally: DTP1 and DTP3 are each still one point below 2019, though the Americas and South-East Asia have recovered.

What is the measles target?

The release says 95% coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks.

Is this medical advice?

No. It summarizes a public health report.