Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is a mildly infectious disease. Around 200,000 people across the world are diagnosed with leprosy each year. Leprosy is curable and, if treated quickly, will cause no long-term consequences for a person.
Around 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy every year, but scientists estimate that many more go undiagnosed.
Most cases of leprosy are found across Asia, Africa, and South America.
Around two thirds of new leprosy cases each year are found in India.
If a country has only a handful of cases, these are likely to be people who have come to the country from another country which has a high number of cases.
The map above indicates the numbers of new cases diagnosed 2023, but it does not represent the millions of people who are living with disabilities and stigma because of leprosy.
Map source: World Health Organisation
Read more about how the WHO is monitoring the global leprosy situation.