Malaria in Nigeria
Patients treated for malaria: 53,331
Mostly Pregnant women and young children are at risk. 76 % of the population live in high
transmission areas while 24 % of the population live in low transmission areas. transmission
season can last all year round in the south and is about 3 months or less in the northern part
of the country.
According to the 2020 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global
malaria cases (27 % of global malaria cases) in 2019 and accounted for the highest number
of deaths (23 % of global malaria deaths).
Case numbers increased 3.5% between 2016 and 2019. However, Deaths fell 16% from 0.57
to 0.47 per 1000 of the population at risk during that same period. The prevalence of
malaria parasitaemia in children under five years of age is 23 percent (a decrease from 27%
in 2015 and 42% in 2010), although there are significant regional, rural-urban, and
socioeconomic differences.
Prevalence ranges from 16% in the South and South East Zones to 34% in the North West
Zone. In rural populations, prevalence is 2.4 times that in urban populations (31% vs. 13%)
Compared to the highest socioeconomic group, prevalence among children in the lowest
socioeconomic group is seven times higher (38% vs. 6%)
The proportion of pregnant women who received at least two doses of sulfadoxine-
pyrimethamine (SP) more than doubled between 2013 and 2015 – from 17% to 41%.
Patients treated for malaria: 53,331
Mostly Pregnant women and young children are at risk. 76 % of the population live in high
transmission areas while 24 % of the population live in low transmission areas. transmission
season can last all year round in the south and is about 3 months or less in the northern part
of the country.
According to the 2020 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global
malaria cases (27 % of global malaria cases) in 2019 and accounted for the highest number
of deaths (23 % of global malaria deaths).
Case numbers increased 3.5% between 2016 and 2019. However, Deaths fell 16% from 0.57
to 0.47 per 1000 of the population at risk during that same period. The prevalence of
malaria parasitaemia in children under five years of age is 23 percent (a decrease from 27%
in 2015 and 42% in 2010), although there are significant regional, rural-urban, and
socioeconomic differences.
Prevalence ranges from 16% in the South and South East Zones to 34% in the North West
Zone. In rural populations, prevalence is 2.4 times that in urban populations (31% vs. 13%)
Compared to the highest socioeconomic group, prevalence among children in the lowest
socioeconomic group is seven times higher (38% vs. 6%)
The proportion of pregnant women who received at least two doses of sulfadoxine-
pyrimethamine (SP) more than doubled between 2013 and 2015 – from 17% to 41%.
