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Global immunization efforts have led to an 88% reduction in measles-related deaths between 2000 and 2024, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report. Since 2000, the measles vaccine has prevented nearly 59 million deaths worldwide.
Despite these achievements, measles remains a significant public health concern. In 2024, an estimated 95,000 people, predominantly children under the age of 5, succumbed to the disease. While this represents one of the lowest annual death tolls since 2000, health officials emphasized that every preventable death is unacceptable.
Alarmingly, the number of measles cases is on the rise. WHO estimates indicate 11 million infections in 2024, nearly 800,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
“Measles is the world’s most contagious virus,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “It will exploit any gaps in our collective defenses, but comprehensive vaccination can prevent outbreaks, save lives, and allow for elimination in entire countries.”
Measles cases in 2024 rose sharply in several regions compared with 2019: 86% in the Eastern Mediterranean, 47% in Europe, and 42% in South-East Asia. Conversely, the African Region experienced a 40% decline in cases and a 50% reduction in deaths, reflecting increased immunization coverage.
Global vaccination coverage remains insufficient. WHO and UNICEF estimate that 84% of children received the first dose of the measles vaccine in 2024, while only 76% received the second dose.
Over 30 million children remain under-protected, with the majority residing in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, often in fragile or conflict-affected areas. According to WHO, at least 95% coverage with two doses is required to prevent outbreaks.
In 2024, 59 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks, nearly triple the number in 2021. All regions except the Americas recorded at least one significant outbreak. While measles surveillance has improved more than 760 laboratories tested over 500,000 samples, a 27% increase from 2023 funding cuts threaten immunization programs and could exacerbate immunity gaps.
The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) highlights that measles often resurges when vaccination coverage declines, revealing weaknesses in health systems worldwide.
As of the end of 2024, 81 countries (42%) had eliminated measles, a modest increase of three countries since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequent verifications in 2025 brought the total number of measles-free countries to 96.
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