Data stories: getting to know the lives behind the numbers

WHO is launching a series of stories to take a closer look at health data and what they mean for population health. Numbers are powerful, but on their own, they rarely speak. Behind every dataset lies a story about how societies function, how systems work and how public health is shaped over time. These are stories about the lives of millions of women, men and children, and how political priorities affect their health and well-being.

Health in focus

Each story explores not just what the data show, but why they matter. It looks at how data are collected and how they can inform better decisions for health. Health data are often presented as charts, tables and indicators; but without context, they risk being overlooked or misunderstood.

This series zooms in on health topics and trends, such as mortality, inequalities and risk factors. Most of the data related to these trends offer a uniquely comprehensive view of population health, revealing not only who is affected, but also provide insight into health system performance and societal and environmental determinants of health. All datasets are available on the WHO European Health Information Gateway.

Better stories lead to better understanding, and better understanding leads to better health.