New data from the World Health Organization reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted malaria services, leading to a marked increase in cases
and deaths.
241 million
malaria cases worldwide in 2020, about 14 million more cases compared to 2019.
627,000
malaria deaths worldwide in 2020, an increase of 69,000 since 2019.
66%
of these additional deaths (47,000) were linked to disruptions in the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.
95%
of malaria cases came from Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020.
96%
of malaria deaths in 2020 came from Sub-Saharan Africa.
80%
of deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa are children under 5.
72%
of insecticide-treated mosquito nets had been distributed in malaria-endemic countries as planned by the end of 2020.
15
countries with a high burden of malaria reported reductions in malaria testing of more than 20% in April-June 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
