Plasmodium vivax malaria prevalence and incidence by region & country

There were estimated to be between 4.5 and 5.5 million cases of P. vivax malaria in 2021.

P. vivax is the most widely geographically distributed parasite. It is predominant in the region of the Americas, comprising 71.5% of estimated malaria cases. In South-East Asia it represents 39.7% of estimated cases and in the Western Pacific and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, 31.9% and 18% of estimated cases respectively.

The prevalence of P. vivax is likely under-reported, owing to a lack of diagnostics and generally lower parasite densities than P. falciparum (see P. vivax diagnosis).