Book excerpt: The World malaria report 2021 provides a comprehensive update on global and regional malaria data and trends. The report tracks investments in malaria programmes and research, as well as progress across all intervention areas: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, elimination and surveillance. It also includes dedicated chapters on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global fight against malaria and on the burden of severe malaria in malaria endemic countries. The target audience is WHO and relevant UN offices at all levels, global partners, national malaria programmes, academia and the general public.