Global Annual Probability of Malaria Infection
~3% globally
Annual probability in Global
Approximately 250 million malaria cases occur globally each year, affecting about 3% of the world's population, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Health Organization estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2022, resulting in approximately 608,000 deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden, accounting for about 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of deaths. Children under 5 account for about 80% of malaria deaths in Africa.
The global incidence rate of approximately 3% masks enormous geographic variation. In high-transmission areas of sub-Saharan Africa, infection rates can exceed 40% annually, while malaria has been eliminated from most of North America, Europe, and East Asia. In the United States, about 2,000 cases are diagnosed each year, almost exclusively in travelers returning from endemic areas.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. The RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) vaccine, recommended by WHO in 2021, provides partial protection and is being rolled out in African countries. Prevention also relies on insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and antimalarial prophylaxis for travelers.
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