Insights from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that approximately 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths have been prevented since the year 2000. Despite this progress, malaria continues to pose a significant global health challenge, with the WHO African Region being particularly affected.
The most recent World Malaria Report from WHO estimates that there were around 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria-related deaths globally in 2023. This marks an increase of about 11 million cases from 2022, while the number of deaths remains relatively unchanged. Notably, around 95% of these fatalities were recorded in the WHO African Region, where preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services are still not widely accessible to those at risk.
“No person should succumb to malaria; yet it still disproportionally impacts individuals residing in the African region, particularly young children and expectant mothers,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General. “An expanded array of life-saving tools is now available, providing improved protection against malaria. Nonetheless, there is a pressing need for increased investments and concerted efforts in high-burden African nations to mitigate this threat.”
By November 2024, WHO had recognized 44 countries and one territory as malaria-free, with many others showing continuous progress toward this status. Among the 83 malaria-endemic nations, 25 now report fewer than ten malaria cases annually, a significant increase from just four countries in 2000.
Since 2015, the malaria mortality rate in the WHO African Region has decreased by 16%. However, the 2023 mortality rate of 52.4 deaths per 100,000 at-risk individuals remains more than double the target of 23 deaths per 100,000, outlined in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, indicating the urgency to accelerate progress.
Earlier this year, health ministers from eleven African countries—comprising two-thirds of the global malaria burden—commit to sustainably and equitably reduce the disease’s impact by fortifying national health systems, enhancing collaboration, and strategically utilizing data.
Recognizing the heightened political commitment, broader distribution of WHO-endorsed interventions is set to drive further advancements in malaria-affected regions. By December 2024, seventeen countries began incorporating malaria vaccines into routine childhood immunization. Expanded vaccination efforts in Africa hold the promise of saving tens of thousands of young lives annually.
Additionally, the availability of advanced mosquito nets, offering superior protection to traditional pyrethroid-only nets, has increased. In 2023, these new nets represented 78% of the 195 million nets distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, up from 59% in 2022.
Despite these strides, global funding for malaria control remains insufficient to offset present trends, especially in high-burden African countries. The funding reached around US$ 4 billion in 2023, significantly below the annual target of US$ 8.3 billion set by the Global Technical Strategy. This funding gap has resulted in substantial deficiencies in the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, medication, and other vital interventions, mainly affecting the most vulnerable populations.
Beyond financial constraints, malaria-endemic nations continue to confront fragile healthcare systems, inadequate surveillance, and growing biological threats such as drug and insecticide resistance. In several regions, additional challenges like conflict, natural disasters, climate change, and population movements exacerbate existing health inequities among groups highly susceptible to malaria, including pregnant women and girls, children under five, Indigenous communities, migrants, disabled individuals, and remote populations with restricted healthcare access.
This year’s World Malaria Report emphasizes a need for a more inclusive and effective approach to safeguard those most susceptible to malaria. WHO advocates for prioritization of primary healthcare as the basis of fair and efficient health systems. Nations are urged to incorporate strategies addressing malaria’s root causes by tackling gender disparities and wider health determinants.
Furthermore, WHO calls for investments in comprehensive data systems capable of evaluating healthcare disparities, including data categorized by gender, age, and other social factors. Antimalarial innovation should emphasize equity, gender equality, and human rights, involving those most affected by malaria in the development and assessment of new tools and methods.