World malaria report 2024

Addressing inequity in the global malaria response

Each year, the World malaria report serves as a vital tool to assess global progress and gaps in the fight against malaria. This year’s report provides a critical and up-to-date snapshot of efforts to control and eliminate the disease in 83 countries worldwide.

The report also introduces, for the first time, a dedicated chapter emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and effective response, with a focus on reaching the populations most vulnerable to malaria. Groups at high risk of a malaria infection include children under 5, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, people with disabilities, and people in remote areas with limited healthcare access.  

Equitable access to life-saving tools is key to reversing global malaria trends

New data from the WHO reveal that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000, but the disease remains a serious global health threat, particularly in the WHO African Region. According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023. This represents about 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths. Approximately 95% of the deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, where many at risk still lack access to the services they need to prevent, detect and treat the disease.