About 53 million Nigerians die of malaria every year.

The World Malaria Report 2018 released by the World Health Organisation shows that around 97,000 (24%) people die of malaria each year in Nigeria.

The World Malaria Report 2018 released by the World Health Organisation shows that around 97,000 (24%) people die of malaria each year in Nigeria.Malaria is a disease transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. In most cases, it is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes.

The WHO estimated in its World Malaria Report in 2017 five countries accounted for nearly half of all malaria cases worldwide. Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, India, and Uganda reported the highest number of malaria cases. Out of these, Nigeria had the highest estimated increases reporting 1,10,000 deaths in 2017 from 98,800 deaths in 2016.

According to report, there were 4,05,000 deaths from malaria globally, and the WHO African Region accounted for 94 percent of total malaria deaths in 2018. Nigeria accounted for almost 24 percent of global malaria deaths, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 11 percent, then United Republic of Tanzania at 5 percent.

Nigeria does have the highest estimated cases of malaria and deaths globally, but it only accounts for around 97,000 deaths, not 5 million.