On the occasion of World Malaria Day, 25 April 2016, WHO is focusing on helping countries move towards malaria elimination. World Health Organization currently estimates that each year malaria causes 300 to 500 million infections and over 1 million deaths each year. P. falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the African continent. It is responsible for most malaria-related deaths globally. 90% of all malaria deaths occur in Africa. Global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 45% globally and by 49% in Africa, according to the "World malaria report 2013" published by WHO. According to WHO’s "World malaria report 2015", there has been a major decline in global malaria cases and deaths since 2000.

Between 2000 and 2015:

•  The malaria mortality rate has fallen by 60% globally
•  The number of malaria cases has fallen by 37% globally
•  57 countries reduced malaria incidence by more than 75%, and a further 18 reduced malaria incidence by 50-75%.

In 2015: