KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 26,064,143 malaria cases in 2025. During that year, the country also reported 29,938 deaths related to the disease. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, shared these figures at a campaign launch in Ituri province. He emphasized that malaria remains the primary public health issue facing the nation. These latest numbers reaffirm the substantial disease burden present in one of Africa’s most malaria-endemic nations.
The National Malaria Control Programme issued these statistics amid expanded malaria intervention efforts in Ituri. Dembo stressed that control initiatives must persist while authorities bolster interventions that have already yielded positive results. Additionally, he advocated for tailored approaches suited to the circumstances of individual health zones. The initiative in Ituri focuses on the mass distribution of antimalarial drugs. This campaign forms part of broader efforts aimed at malaria prevention and treatment. The programme oversees national strategies targeted at lowering infection rates, severe illness, and fatalities caused by malaria.
According to World Health Organization, an estimated 282 million malaria cases occurred globally in 2024, with approximately 610,000 deaths. Africa accounted for roughly 95% of both cases and fatalities that year, reporting about 265 million cases and 579,000 deaths. The Democratic Republic of the Congo contributed to 11.7% of malaria-related deaths within the African continent. WHO data indicates that children under five represented approximately three quarters of all malaria deaths in Africa. These statistics place DRC among the countries with the highest malaria burden worldwide.
The malaria burden remains heavily concentrated in Africa
Malaria primarily transmits through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite its prevalence, it is preventable and treatable. Initial symptoms often include fever, chills, and headaches. Severe cases can escalate to breathing difficulties, seizures, extreme fatigue, and loss of consciousness. The most dangerous malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is also the most common across Africa. Efforts to reduce transmission and prevent severe outcomes include the use of mosquito nets, medications, testing, and treatment. Prompt diagnosis is crucial because untreated falciparum malaria can quickly become life-threatening.
In October 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo incorporated the R21 malaria vaccine into its national immunization schedule. The initial rollout began in Kongo Central province after receiving 693,500 vaccine doses. This phase targeted 173,375 children across 31 health zones. The World Health Organization supported the vaccine’s introduction alongside national health authorities and other partners. The vaccine serves as a complement to existing measures such as insecticide-treated nets, prophylactic medicines, diagnosis, and treatment. The government adopted vaccination as an additional tool to safeguard young children from malaria.
Adding vaccination to the arsenal of national malaria control strategies
The country’s 2024-2028 National Strategic Plan integrates multiple measures aimed at combating malaria in high-risk populations. These include expanded distribution of advanced insecticide-treated mosquito nets and prophylactic treatment for pregnant women and infants. A pilot project for seasonal malaria chemoprevention is also part of the plan. Additional strategies involve indoor residual spraying, larval habitat management, rapid diagnostic testing, and artemisinin-based combination therapies. The plan also emphasizes malaria surveillance and community engagement, with the goal of protecting 80% of at-risk populations.
The figures for cases and deaths in 2025 provided by Dembo are based on data reported by the national malaria programme. They are separate from the WHO’s modeled global estimates, which currently cover 2024. These recent national figures illustrate that malaria continues to impact millions across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Authorities are employing multiple measures—including drug administration, vaccination, mosquito control, preventive treatment, and diagnostic services—in their ongoing response. The mass antimalarial drug administration in Ituri adds another layer to these efforts as the country strives to diminish malaria-related illness and fatalities.
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