Contents
Table of contents
Overview
Bacterial meningitis
is one of the deadliest forms of meningitis
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
4 causes are responsible for more than half of bacterial meningitis deaths
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Meningitis is the swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (called meninges). Meningitis is a serious, often life-threatening illness that can kill in hours and affects around 2.5 million people globally every year. Anyone can get meningitis, but some people are at a higher risk than others. Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Bacterial meningitis is one of the deadliest forms of meningitis, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that around one in six people who get it will die. The bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause life-threatening sepsis. The Meningitis Progress Tracker provides data for common bacterial and viral causes of meningitis.
Which cause of bacterial meningitis is most responsible for deaths worldwide?
Pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis are responsible for an estimated 70,000 deaths each year
Many different bacteria can cause meningitis. Four of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis are streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal), neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal), group B streptococcus (GBS) and Haemophilus influenzae.
This chart shows the estimated number of deaths worldwide from common causes of bacterial meningitis annually. The ‘other causes’ of bacterial meningitis include: E.coli, listeria, salmonella, klebsiella and some rarer causes of bacterial meningitis.
The WHO Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 aims to reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis (pneumococcal, meningococcal, GBS and Haemophilus influenzae) by 50%, and deaths by 70%, so it’s important to be aware of progress in vaccine availability.
How many people get and die from pneumococcal meningitis where you live?
Pneumococcal meningitis is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in some countries
Pneumococcal meningitis is one of the most life-threatening causes of bacterial meningitis. On average about 83% of cases of pneumococcal meningitis occur in children.
This chart shows how many people get and die from pneumococcal meningitis globally. Use it to check cases and deaths in your own country and World Health Organization (WHO) region. There were an estimated 291,092 cases and over 38,000 deaths globally from pneumococcal meningitis in 2021.
Many cases of pneumococcal meningitis can be prevented. Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect against the most common and harmful circulating strains of pneumococcal bacteria.
How many people get and die from meningococcal meningitis where you live?
Somebody in the world will get meningococcal meningitis every two minutes
The most common cause of bacterial meningitis – meningococcal – is made up of several different types. The six main causes of meningitis are types A, B, C, W, X and Y.
The risk of getting meningococcal meningitis changes according to where you live, as certain types of meningococcal bacteria are more common in different parts of the world.
This chart shows how many people get and die from meningococcal meningitis globally. Use it to check causes and deaths in your own country and WHO region.
Not all meningococcal disease is vaccine preventable, however there are several vaccines available that protect against different types. Vaccine availability varies by country depending on factors such as how widespread a meningococcal type is, and the age groups most likely to be affected by it.
Want to know more information about meningitis causes in your country?
How many people get and die from group B streptococcal meningitis (GBS) where you live?
Group B streptococcus bacteria are a leading cause of meningitis in babies
Group B streptococcus (GBS) meningitis is a very serious illness that can cause death and long-term disability in survivors.
Babies under 90 days of age are at the highest risk of GBS, but it is rare in older children and adults. In high-income countries, GBS is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in babies under three months old.
This chart shows how many people get and die from GBS globally. Use it to check cases and deaths in your own country and WHO region. Estimates show that over 6,000 babies under the age of one died from GBS meningitis globally in 2021.
Currently there are no vaccines available that prevent GBS meningitis, but they are under development.
How many people get and die from Haemophilus influenzae meningitis where you live?
Haemophilus influenzae is still an important cause of meningitis
Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is a potentially deadly form of bacterial meningitis. There are six different types of Hi bacteria (types a to f). Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is the most dangerous.
This chart shows how many people get and die from Haemophilus influenzae meningitis globally. Use it to check cases and deaths in your own country and WHO region.
Widespread roll out of vaccines which protect against Hib has halved cases of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis globally. In countries that have high vaccine coverage against Hib, meningitis caused by other types of Haemophilus influenzae are more common.
Haemophilus influenzae is still an important cause of meningitis in countries with low vaccine coverage rates.
How many people get and die from other bacterial and viral causes of meningitis where you live?
Viruses can cause meningitis
Viruses are the most common cause of meningitis globally. However, viral meningitis is rarely life threatening, and most people who get it go on to make a good recovery.
Other causes of bacterial meningitis include E.coli, listeria, Salmonella, Klebsiella and some rarer causes of bacterial meningitis.
Use this chart to see how many people get and die from other bacterial and viral causes of meningitis globally. Change the drop-down options to see cases and deaths in different countries or WHO regions.
Vaccines are available to protect against the causes of viral meningitis, however not all forms are preventable with vaccines.
Learn more about each meningitis cause on our website
Factsheet
Pneumococcal Meningitis
Factsheet
Meningococcal Meningitis
Factsheet
Group B Streptococcal (GBS) Meningitis
Factsheet
Haemophilus Influenza Meningitis
Citing our work
We welcome you using our data to advocate for and raise awareness of meningitis. However, when citing this information please include references to underlying data sources, as this important work relies on many different people and organisations.
Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF). (2024). Meningitis Progress Tracker | Meningitis Research Foundation.
www.meningitis.org. https://www.meningitis.org/mpt
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