On Dec. 4, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the 2025 World Malaria Report showing that since 2000, 2.3 billion malaria cases and 14 million deaths have been averted worldwide – including 1 million lives saved in 2024 alone – and there has been continued movement towards global elimination goals, with 47 countries and one territory now officially certified as malaria-free by WHO.

Despite these gains, however, malaria remains a serious global health challenge, with an estimated 282 million cases and 610 000 deaths in 2024 – roughly 9 million more cases than the previous year.

The WHO African Region continues to bear the greatest burden, with 11 countries accounting for about two thirds of global cases and deaths. Progress in reducing the malaria mortality rate nevertheless remains far off track.

Each year, the World malaria report serves as a vital tool to assess global progress and identify gaps in the fight against malaria. This year’s report provides a critical and up-to-date snapshot of efforts to control and eliminate malaria across 80 countries, including the epidemiological situation, progress toward the global technical strategy, the funding landscape, the status of malaria interventions and of emerging biological threats.

The report also presents the threat posed by antimalarial resistance and its impact in a dedicated chapter, emphasizing the need for a more coordinated and effective response that is locally tailored and supported by regulation, strong quality-assurance systems, active provider engagement, and the timely generation and sharing of high-quality drug-resistance data.