Malaria Vaccines Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Vaccine Type (Live Attenuated Vaccines, Inactivated/Killed Vaccines, Subunit/ Conjugate, DNA Vaccine, and Recombinant Vector Vaccines), By Agent (Plasmodium Falciparum, Plasmodium Vivax, and Anopheles Species), By Route of Administration (Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, Intradermal and Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy, and Others) and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Malaria vaccines market size was valued at US$ 589.2 million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 1,427.9 million by 2031 at a CAGR of 11.7% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. Malaria Vaccines Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 445.5 Million by 2031. The Malaria vaccine is a biological preparation designed to provide immunity or protection against malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by the plasmodium parasite, transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. The malaria vaccine market is primarily driven by increasing government-led immunization programs, rising global awareness of malaria’s impact, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and the need for effective prevention alternatives to conventional methods like bed nets and antimalarial drugs pharmaceutical companies and global health organizations are collaborating to enhance vaccine availability, supported by both public funding and private investment. A key trend shaping the market is the growing demand for multi-dose and combination vaccines that offer broader, long-term protection. These vaccines aim to simplify immunization processes in high-risk regions, especially where co-infections are prevalent.

Significant opportunities exist in expanding vaccine coverage in malaria-endemic regions such as Africa and Southeast Asia. Pilot rollouts in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have shown a decline in malaria incidence, encouraging broader adoption. Additionally, next-generation vaccines like R21/Matrix-M, with higher efficacy, signal promising growth potential.

However, market expansion is restrained by challenges such as inadequate cold-chain infrastructure in remote areas, variable efficacy of existing vaccines across different Plasmodium strains and age groups, requiring continuous innovation.

Facts & Figures

• High Disease Burden: Malaria remains a major global health threat, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where young children are most at risk. The persistent high mortality and morbidity create an urgent need for effective vaccines. Recently, the WHO reported over 600,000 malaria-related deaths in 2022, with 80% among children under five.
• Global Health Initiatives and Fundings: The government investment in this area is prominent through various alliances. The Vaccine Alliance, like GAVI, brings together developing countries and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, and other private sector partners. As of 25 April 2025, over 24 million doses have been delivered to 20 countries in Africa, which have introduced malaria vaccines into routine immunisation with GAVI support.

• Advancements in Vaccine Development: The breakthroughs in vaccine technology, like RTS,S, and the newer R21, have improved efficacy and lowered costs, making wide-scale immunization more feasible. For instance, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by Oxford and Serum Institute of India, shows up to 79% efficacy and costs under $4 per dose.
• Technological Innovation: More Next-gen platforms like mRNA are being explored for malaria, promising higher efficacy and faster development cycles similar to the COVID-19 vaccine progress. mRNA-based malaria vaccines are in clinical trials, aiming to address antigenic diversity and improve immune response.

Key Developments

• In February 2025, Sanaria announced a breakthrough with the PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine, in collaboration with Seattle Children’s Research Institute. This innovative vaccine offers high-level protection against malaria with just one dose, utilizing genetically weakened parasites that replicate in the liver but halt progression before reaching the bloodstream.

Malaria Vaccine Market Segmentation

Based on the vaccine type

• Live Attenuated Vaccines
• Inactivated/Killed Vaccines
• Subunit/ Conjugate
• DNA Vaccine
• Recombinant Vector Vaccines

The subunit/conjugate vaccines segment holds the largest share in the market, driven by their enhanced safety profile and strong immune response. It is primarily driven by the success and global deployment of RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix), the first WHO-approved malaria vaccine. Subunit vaccines are non-live and therefore safer for immunocompromised individuals, crucial in paediatric vaccination.

Meanwhile, the recombinant DNA vaccine segment is still a new segment which requires higher investment and advanced technology for vaccine development but it is expected to boom shortly due to its greater effectiveness against the parasite.

Based on the agent

• Plasmodium Falciparum
• Plasmodium Vivax
• Anopheles Species

Plasmodium Falciparum segment holds the highest market share in the market. This dominance is due to P. falciparum’s widespread presence and its role in causing the most severe and deadly forms of malaria, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which drives focused vaccine development and deployment efforts.

In contrast, the Anopheles species segment has the lowest market share, as vaccines targeting the mosquito vector itself are still largely experimental and less commercially available compared to those targeting the Plasmodium parasites.

 Based on the Route of Administration

• Intramuscular
• Subcutaneous
• Intradermal
• Others

The intramuscular (IM) route holds the highest market share for malaria vaccine administration due to its proven efficacy, ease of use, and widespread adoption in vaccines like RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M. IM injections allow efficient absorption and generate strong immune responses, making them ideal for large-scale immunization programs. Additionally, healthcare professionals are well-trained in IM delivery, enhancing safety and compliance.

In contrast, subcutaneous and intradermal routes have lower shares due to technical challenges, lower immunogenicity, and administration complexity. Other methods, like oral or intranasal, remain experimental.

Based on the distribution channel

• Hospital Pharmacy
• Online Pharmacy
• Retail Pharmacy
• Others

The hospital pharmacy segment holds the largest share in the market, driven by the high reliance on hospitals for vaccination services and immunization programs. Hospitals serve as primary vaccination centres, ensuring the safe administration of malaria vaccines, especially for infants, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised patients.  Additionally, government-led immunization initiatives and bulk vaccine procurement for hospital-based vaccination campaigns contribute to market dominance. Hospital pharmacies also have better storage facilities, ensuring proper cold chain management, which is crucial for vaccine efficacy. The increasing prevalence of malaria infections and the expansion of hospital-based vaccination programs further reinforce this segment’s leadership. The vaccine delivery through an online pharmacy is still not recommended by experts, thus it doesn’t have a significant market share.