WHO malaria report shows deaths rising again, with Africa hardest Hit.

Tuesday 9th December 2025

By inAfrika Newsroom

The WHO malaria report 2024 Africa picture is sobering. Global malaria deaths rose to about 610,000 in 2024, with most fatalities among young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization’s latest annual update estimates malaria cases climbed from 273 million in 2023 to around 282 million in 2024. Nearly all of the increase came from African countries already struggling with climate shocks, conflict and strained health budgets.

WHO points to several drivers. Insecticide-treated bed nets are losing effectiveness as mosquitoes develop resistance. Drug resistance is emerging in some regions. Health systems are stretched by concurrent outbreaks, including cholera and measles in parts of Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Funding is another concern. Global malaria investment reached about $3.9 billion in 2024, far below the $9 billion WHO says is needed to stay on track. Recent aid cuts, including from major donors, risk widening that gap.

Next steps

The WHO malaria report 2024 Africa findings urge governments to protect and expand core tools. That means distributing new generations of bed nets, updating treatment protocols and training community health workers to diagnose and treat early.

WHO is also pushing for faster introduction of malaria vaccines, including second-generation products aimed at high-burden African settings. However, vaccine rollout must sit alongside strong vector control and surveillance, not replace them.

Domestic financing is critical. Ministries of health and finance are being asked to ring-fence malaria budgets even as they respond to other emergencies. Regional bodies are exploring pooled procurement to reduce costs and avoid stock-outs.

Why it matters: WHO malaria report 2024 Africa

Malaria is both a health crisis and an economic drag. Every missed school day, clinic visit and harvest hit reduces productivity. The WHO malaria report 2024 Africa message is that progress has stalled and could reverse further without renewed focus.

For families, the issue is painfully concrete. A child with fever needs a quick test, effective drugs and protection from bites at night. For governments, malaria trends now sit alongside climate and debt risks in planning tables.

If new tools and financing are aligned, malaria control can recover lost ground. If not, the disease will keep exploiting every weakness in Africa’s health systems.