English: This map shows estimated levels of Plasmodium falciparum malaria endemicity within the limits of stable transmission.

The mapped variable is the age-standardised P. falciparum Parasite Rate (PfPR2-10) which describes the estimated proportion of 2-10 year olds in the general population that are infected with P. falciparum at any one time, averaged over the 12 months of 2010.

Estimates are made based on data from parasite rate surveys which feed into a geostatistical model that produces a range of predicted endemicities for each location (a probability distribution). The model also uses data from environmental covariates which help predict more accurately, especially in areas far from any actual survey data. The environmental covariates include rainfall, temperature, land cover and urban/ rural status. This endemicity map shows the mean value for the probability distribution at each location (approx. 1km2).

Gething, P.W.*, Patil, A.P.*, Smith, D.L.*, Guerra, C.A., Elyazar, I.R.F., Johnston , G.L., Tatem, A.J. and Hay, S.I. (2011). A new world malaria map: Plasmodium falciparum endemicity in 2010. Malaria Journal, 10: 378. *indicates equal authorship.