Background Tuberculosis (TB) represents a major challenge for Brazil and the world, especially because of the presence of pockets of poverty and coinfection with TB/HIV. The aim of the study is to analyse the trend of prevalence, incidence and mortality of tuberculosis cases, associated or not with HIV in Brazil and worldwide.

Materials and Methods We used data on prevalence, incidence and mortality from tuberculosis, with or without HIV co-infection, obtained by the WHO, from 1996 to 2008, referring to Brazil and the world. The trends were estimated by linear regression.

Results The data suggest a reduction in the prevalence of and mortality from TB both in Brazil and worldwide, with more marked reduction in Brazil. However, TB incidence is falling in Brazil while increasing worldwide. There were increasing rates of incident TB/HIV.

Conclusion Social inequality, population ageing, migration, the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains and the advent of AIDS are the main causes aggravating the current TB situation. In this context, methodological approaches for assessing TB surveillance actions are welcome because they can identify situations where the TB notification data are different from the true incidence of this disease.