Nearly every minute, a child dies from malaria, a disease caused by a single mosquito bite. Malaria is preventable and treatable, with a life-saving, insecticide-treated bed net and other malaria prevention tools and treatment. Refugees, pregnant women, and children are most vulnerable to this disease.
Malaria is transmitted to people through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes, which primarily bite at night and carry the life-threatening disease caused by the blood parasite Plasmodium. In 2022, there were 249 million cases of malaria worldwide and 608,000 deaths, 78% of which were children under five. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria. Most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are also at risk.
A century ago, malaria existed nearly everywhere in the world. Since then, incredible progress has been made – and the malaria map is shrinking. In fact, we’re at a pivotal moment in history. With greater political commitments, sustained financial investments, and enhanced regional initiatives for malaria elimination, we can be the generation to beat malaria for good.
The global malaria burden remains heavily concentrated in Africa. An estimated 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths occur in the region. Nearly half of the people in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to an insecticide-treated bed net.
In 2015, 1.4 billion people were at risk of contracting malaria in Southeast Asia, with 1.5 million confirmed cases occurring in the region. But the region has made progress towards malaria reduction: over the last two decades, malaria cases decreased from 22.8 million to
5.2 million.
In 2015, 1.4 billion people were at risk of contracting malaria in Southeast Asia, with 1.5 million confirmed cases occurring in the region. But the region has made progress towards malaria reduction: over the last two decades, malaria cases decreased from 22.8 million to
5.2 million.
A crucial goal toward ending malaria for good is working to eliminate malaria in the Americas, where the disease lingers in certain regions due to insufficient funding, political will, or technical capacity. As the Americas work to address mosquito-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, malaria, and more, it is crucial that the U.S. help strengthen these health systems before they creep across borders.
Nearly every minute a child dies of malaria.
50% of the world’s population is at risk of contracting malaria.
48% of people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to a bed net.
11.7 million lives have been saved from malaria since 2000.
There’s been a nearly 50% decrease in malaria mortality rates worldwide since 2000.
More than 2 billion nets have been delivered to sub-Saharan African countries since 2000.
Insecticide-treated bed nets create a barrier against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, killing the mosquitoes before they can transmit the disease. We work with our UN partners to purchase life-saving bed nets and distribute them to families.
Take Action© United to Beat Malaria. 2024 • Save Lives, Beat Malaria
A campaign of the 
