Global Malaria Cases and Deaths Rise, Driven by Resistance and Climate Challenges

The WHO reports 263 million malaria cases in 2023, with African children disproportionately affected, as funding gaps and climate change hinder progress.

• Malaria cases increased by 11 million in 2023, reaching 263 million globally, with 597,000 deaths, most among African children under five.
• Rising resistance to drugs and insecticides, coupled with climate-driven extreme weather, is exacerbating the spread of malaria in vulnerable regions.
• Funding for malaria control efforts remains at $4 billion annually, less than half of the $8.3 billion needed to meet global targets for prevention and treatment.
• New tools, including two vaccines and next-generation insecticide-treated bed nets, have shown promise in reducing cases and deaths in pilot programs across Africa.
• The WHO emphasizes the need for increased investment and action to address malaria in high-burden African countries, where progress has stalled since 2015.

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