Malaria-free certification: Timor-Leste
The World Health Organization has certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free
On 24 July 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified Timor-Leste as malaria-free. Timor-Leste is the third country to be certified in the WHO South-East Asia region, joining Maldives and Sri Lanka which were certified in 2015 and 2016 respectively [1].
A country can apply to WHO for certification. However, this will only be granted when the country has proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that local transmission of all types of human malaria parasites have been interrupted nationwide for at least the past three consecutive years. Countries also need to show they have a fully functional surveillance and response system in place to prevent re-establishment of local transmission [2].
Timor-Leste embarked on a concerted, nationwide malaria response in 2002. They reduced malaria cases from a peak of more than 223,000 clinically diagnosed cases in 2006 to no locally acquired cases from 2021 onwards [1].
The Country Information page for Timor-Leste has been updated to reflect that malaria is no longer a risk in this country.
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