In 2018, 52 862 cases of tuberculosis TB were reported in 30 European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries (Latvia did not report any case-based data), resulting in a notification rate of 10.2 per 100 000 population in the EU/EEA. The overall notification rate and the rates in most countries have been decreasing over the last five years.

There were twice as many males as females reported among all incident TB cases, but large variation was observed for male predominance in the sex distribution of TB cases, ranging from almost even distribution to over three times greater in Armenia. In most countries, gender differences in notification rates appear to be more significant among middle-aged and older adults. TB rates in males and females appear to be more similar in children and younger adults (0–14 and 15–24 years). This gender difference in TB case notification most probably reflects the overrepresentation of males in the various TB risk groups, notably homeless people, prisoners, seasonal migrant workers, people living with HIV, men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs.