Malaria

These are estimated episodes, not the percentage of people infected, severe cases or the chance of dying. National averages hide local differences.

Africa (African Union member states), the WHO African Region and sub-Saharan Africa have different boundaries. Income groups overlap these regions; do not add their figures together.

Estimates can change as evidence improves. Sources: WHO World malaria report 2025, African Union 2026 release and World Bank's WHO-sourced 2024 incidence series.

Additional regional context: Africa · AU member states — 96 in 100 of the world's malaria episodes occurred here: 270.8 million episodes and nearly 600,000 deaths. Source: African Union · Africa's 2024 burden.

Country ranks compare totals within the same source and year, among countries and territories with available estimates. Missing estimates and zero values are different; neither is assigned a positive-burden rank.

The United States is not endemic for malaria, but imported and occasional local cases occur. N/A in the WHO endemic-country table does not mean no malaria cases (CDC).

Population icons use matching 2024 source denominators: WHO population at risk for malaria; WHO resident population for TB; IDF adults aged 20–79 for diabetes. These are crude count-to-population ratios, not age-standardised rates. Ten icons represent the whole comparison scale; small rates are labelled per 1,000. Annual episodes are not unique people. Missing denominators remain N/A.

Regional totals and population rates are calculated from the same 2024 WHO country estimates and denominators. Group membership uses the saved World Bank Country API snapshot checked 4 November 2026, not a claim of historical 2024 income classification. Income and regional groups overlap and must not be added. Countries without comparable source estimates are excluded. The member ISO codes and exact sums are retained with this topic data.

Previous regional rate context: World Bank / WHO 2024 series reported 64.5 malaria episodes per 1,000 people at risk for LMICs and 229.3 for SSA; these can differ slightly from our matched-country sums.

Country status is separate from the 2024 burden estimates. WHO's malaria-free register and supplementary list were checked on 4 November 2026 (register updated 15 July 2025). Certification concerns interrupted indigenous transmission; imported or introduced cases may still occur. Geographic and species-specific qualifications are preserved. A zero estimate or missing value alone never establishes elimination.

The 'Low estimated burden' message for malaria means fewer than one estimated episode per 1,000 people at risk in this source and year. This is an explanatory display threshold, not a WHO transmission classification, an elimination designation, or an individual risk assessment. National averages can hide local transmission.