Archive · 6 Dec 2025
Global Malaria Cases Rise in 2024
Malaria is spreading more in 2024, with 282 million people getting sick and 610,000 dying.
Most cases and deaths are in Africa, especially among young children.
India also has a lot of malaria cases.
The main reasons for the increase are that the medicines and insecticides used to fight malaria are not working as well, there's not enough money to fight the disease, and climate change is making it harder to control.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that if countries work together and spend more money on better tools and prevention, they can still stop malaria from spreading even more.
They also say that more countries need to use malaria vaccines and better bed nets to protect people.
Without action, the progress made over the past years could be lost.
Malaria cases rose to 282 million in 2024, with 610,000 deaths, primarily affecting children under five in Africa and South Asia.
India accounted for 73.3% of malaria cases and 88.7% of deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region.
Drug and insecticide resistance, funding gaps, climate change, and humanitarian crises are major factors driving the increase in malaria cases.
New tools like malaria vaccines, improved bed nets, and preventive treatments helped prevent an estimated 170 million cases and 1 million deaths in 2024.
The WHO calls for increased investment in new tools, stronger surveillance systems, and sustained funding to combat the rising threat of malaria.
- Who
- Global population, with a significant impact on children under five, particularly in Africa and South Asia.
- What
- A rise in malaria cases and deaths due to drug resistance, insecticide resistance, funding gaps, and environmental factors.
- When
- 2024, with a warning for potential future increases.
- Where
- Primarily in Africa and South Asia, with notable impacts in India.
- Why
- Due to drug and insecticide resistance, funding shortages, climate change, population growth, and humanitarian crises.
- Total Cases
- 282 million in 2024
- Total Deaths
- 610,000 in 2024
- Most Affected Region
- Africa (94% of cases, 95% of deaths)
- India's Burden
- 73.3% of cases, 88.7% of deaths in WHO South-East Asia Region
- Prevention Impact
- 170 million cases and 1 million deaths prevented in 2024
- Malaria-Free Status
- 47 countries and one territory
- Drug Resistance
- Reported in eight countries
