Malaria claimed an estimated 610,000 lives in 2024—most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa—according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency cautioned that progress against the disease is slowing, with growing risks from drug resistance, climate change, and shrinking global funding.
The latest WHO annual malaria report shows a slight increase in deaths compared to 2023. Infection cases also rose, climbing from 273 million to an estimated 282 million in 2024.
Despite major gains in the early 2000s, global efforts to eradicate malaria have stagnated over the past decade. While 47 countries have achieved malaria-free status, others saw sharp increases in cases this year, particularly Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Yemen.
Multiple Threats Driving the Setback
“Too many people are still dying from a preventable and curable disease,” said Daniel Ngamije Madandi, director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme.
He highlighted several growing challenges:
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Rising resistance to malaria drugs
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Increasing resistance to insecticides used on treated bed nets
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Climate change fueling mosquito spread
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Conflicts disrupting healthcare services
Case incidence—adjusted for population growth—also climbed from 59 to 64 cases per 100,000 people at risk between 2015 and 2024. Mortality rates, however, improved only slightly, dropping from 14.9 to 13.8 per 100,000 people at risk.
Funding Far Below What’s Needed
One of the most urgent concerns raised by the WHO is inadequate global financing. In 2024, malaria funding from both donors and affected countries reached $3.9 billion—far short of the more than $9 billion needed to keep eradication efforts on track.
This figure also does not account for the impact of international aid cuts that began in January in the United States, which WHO officials say have already contributed to disruptions in malaria programs.
“The underfunding of the malaria response brings an obvious risk—a massive and uncontrolled resurgence of disease,” Ngamije warned.
Hope in New Tools—If They Reach People in Need
The WHO emphasized that new technologies—such as improved treatments, rapid diagnostics, and recently deployed malaria vaccines—offer promising opportunities to save millions of lives. However, their effectiveness depends on rapid, widespread distribution by governments and international partners.
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