Contents
Table of contents
Overview
Global meningitis rank by number of cases
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Regional meningitis rank by number of cases
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
No plan
In progress
Complete
State of national anti-meningitis plan
Source: WHO/MRF 2024
About our data sources
The cases, deaths and impairment data on this page are based on estimates from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (IHME GBD 2021). Data is continually updated based on how often it is made available.
While estimates are a useful starting point to understand trends in meningitis they do have limitations and are different to surveillance data – which comes directly from hospitals and laboratories.
Estimates for a country or cause of meningitis may differ from surveillance data. It is important to use surveillance data where it is available.
Contact your national Ministry of Health for more information about the surveillance data in your country.
Need help with contacting your Ministry of Health?
Cases & Deaths
Estimated meningitis cases in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Estimated cases of meningitis per 100,000 people in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Estimated meningitis deaths in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Estimated deaths from meningitis per 100,000 people in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
How many people get and die from meningitis in my country?
Explaining the terms used: cases, incidence, deaths and mortality
A “case” represents a person who has had meningitis. A “death” represents a death from meningitis. Cases and deaths data helps us to track the number of people who have had or have died from meningitis over time or in a specific area.
“Incidence” means the rate of new cases of meningitis that occur within a specific population over a given time period. “Mortality” refers to the rate of deaths from meningitis within a specific population over a given period of time. Incidence and mortality data help us to understand and compare the risk of getting or dying from meningitis in different countries and regions.
Causes & Vaccines
What causes the most deaths from meningitis in my country?
Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Bacterial meningitis is one of the deadliest forms of meningitis.
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.
Viruses are the most common cause of meningitis. However, viral meningitis is rarely life threatening.
Other causes of bacterial meningitis include E.coli, listeria, salmonella, klebsiella and some rarer causes of bacterial meningitis.
This chart shows the estimated number of deaths from common causes of meningitis in your country.
What meningitis vaccines are available in my country?
Meningococcal vaccines for children or young people
Source: Analysis of multiple sources by Meningitis Research Foundation
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines for children
Source: IVAC, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, July 2024
Pneumococcal vaccines for children
Source: IVAC, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, July 2024
Vaccines can make a difference
Vaccines provide the best protection against meningitis. They help to protect those at greatest risk of becoming ill and prevent the spread of meningitis Vaccines are available that prevent the most common severe causes of meningitis. These vaccines have dramatically reduced cases and deaths of meningitis throughout the world. Meningitis vaccine availability is different around the world.
It is important to remember that vaccines do not protect against all causes of meningitis.
How many children receive vaccines that protect them common causes of meningitis?
The charts show coverage in your country for vaccines that protect against two common bacterial causes of meningitis: haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) and pneumococcal.
Availability of meningococcal vaccines varies by country and there is no universal recommendation from the WHO. Your Ministry of Health decides which vaccines to provide based on local data about how widespread meningococcal is, and the age groups most likely to be affected by it.
Currently there are no vaccines available that prevent GBS meningitis, but they are under development.
Read more about vaccines available in your country on the WHO’s national immunisation schedule data portal.
What’s the impact of meningitis in my country?
Disability Adjusted Years of Life (DALYs) lost to meningitis in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Years of Life Lost (YLLs) to meningitis in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) from meningitis in 2021
Source: IHME, GBD 2021
What lifelong impairments are people left with after meningitis?
DALYs = YLLs + YLDs
Measuring the impact of meningitis can be done in different ways. Years of life lost (YLLs) due to dying earlier because of the disease, years lived with disability (YLDs) due to meningitis, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) which is calculated by adding YLLs and YLDs.
Across the world, bacterial meningitis leaves one in five people with lifelong disabilities. Many survivors of meningitis are left with after-effects that lead to neurological disorders including hearing loss, brain damage, intellectual and developmental disability, and epilepsy.
This chart shows how much lifelong impairment the is due to the four most common neurological impairments that can result from the disease in your country.
Find local support
We are a network of people and organisations around the world, united in our mission to defeat meningitis. Our members in over 55 countries include organisations & associated NGOs, affected individuals and medical clinicians.
Together and in collaboration across four corners of the globe – we are dedicated to meningitis prevention, support and advocacy within our communities and countries.
Visit the CoMO website to find out more, including whether there are members in your country
This page includes GeoLite2 Data created by MaxMind, available from https://www.maxmind.com