Summary Measles deaths declined from 802 000 deaths (95% UI 278 000–1 670 000) in 1990 to 83 400 deaths (31 000–180 000) in 2019. Still, 69 800 children (24 400–153 000) under 5 years died from measles in 2019; 78·2% (72·3–83·4) of these vaccine-preventable child deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

Definition Measles is a contagious infection caused by the measles virus. Symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever, conjunctivitis, and red, blotchy skin.

Total sources
Incidence 7901
Prevalence 0
Remission 0
Causes of death 3912
Other 248
Table 1: Total sources used in GBD 2019 estimation
What is new in GBD 2019?
  • •The measles case fatality ratio systematic review was updated, adding an additional 23 sources and 36 location-years to the 133 sources and 307 location-years used in GBD 2017.
  • •Means of first-dose and second-dose measles vaccination coverage over the preceding five years were used as covariates in the GBD 2019 incidence model, in order to better reflect changes in population immunity and coverage trends over time. In previous cycles, single-year estimates of coverage were used.
  • •In the measles CODEm, which is used to estimate mortality in countries with high-quality vital registration systems, HAQ Index and SDI replaced the previous maternal care and immunisation covariate as predictors.
Prevalence
Incidence
Deaths
YLLs
YLDs
DALYs
Cases
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
Cases
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
Deaths
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
YLLs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
YLDs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
DALYs
(millions)
Rate (per 100 000)
2019
Both Sexes
0·351
(0·125
to 0·759)
5·2
(1·9
to 11·3)
12·8
(4·55
to 27·7)
191·0
(67·8
to 413·0)
0·0834
(0·0310
to 0·180)
1·2
(0·5
to 2·7)
6·99
(2·51
to 15·3)
104·3
(37·3
to 228·5)
0·0317
(0·0100
to 0·0751)
0·5
(0·1
to 1·1)
7·03
(2·53
to 15·4)
104·8
(37·5
to 229·6)
Females
0·172
(0·0609
to 0·371)
5·3
(1·9
to 11·4)
6·27
(2·22
to 13·5)
193·2
(68·5
to 417·2)
0·0409
(0·0152
to 0·0889)
1·3
(0·5
to 2·7)
3·42
(1·22
to 7·53)
105·4
(37·4
to 232·3)
0·0155
(0·00499
to 0·0369)
0·5
(0·2
to 1·1)
3·44
(1·23
to 7·56)
105·9
(37·5
to 233·4)
Males
0·179
(0·0637
to 0·388)
5·2
(1·8
to 11·2)
6·54
(2·32
to 14·2)
189·0
(67·2
to 409·1)
0·0425
(0·0157
to 0·0922)
1·2
(0·4
to 2·7)
3·57
(1·28
to 7·83)
103·2
(36·7
to 226·5)
0·0162
(0·00507
to 0·0382)
0·5
(0·1
to 1·1)
3·59
(1·28
to 7·86)
103·7
(36·9
to 227·5)
Percentage change 2010-19
Both Sexes
–65·2%
(–68·4
to –61·1)
–65·9%
(–69·0
to –61·8)
–65·2%
(–68·4
to –61·1)
–65·9%
(–69·0
to –61·8)
–60·4%
(–67·5
to –51·5)
–61·4%
(–68·4
to –52·7)
–61·2%
(–68·2
to –52·4)
–62·0%
(–68·9
to –53·4)
–65·0%
(–68·6
to –60·6)
–65·7%
(–69·3
to –61·3)
–61·2%
(–68·2
to –52·4)
–62·0%
(–68·9
to –53·4)
Females
–64·9%
(–68·1
to –60·8)
–65·7%
(–68·8
to –61·7)
–64·9%
(–68·1
to –60·8)
–65·7%
(–68·8
to –61·7)
–60·9%
(–67·7
to –52·4)
–62·0%
(–68·7
to –53·8)
–61·7%
(–68·6
to –53·4)
–62·6%
(–69·4
to –54·5)
–64·7%
(–68·5
to –59·9)
–65·5%
(–69·2
to –60·7)
–61·8%
(–68·6
to –53·5)
–62·6%
(–69·4
to –54·6)
Males
–65·4%
(–68·7
to –61·3)
–66·1%
(–69·2
to –62·0)
–65·4%
(–68·7
to –61·3)
–66·1%
(–69·2
to –62·0)
–59·9%
(–67·2
to –50·6)
–60·7%
(–67·9
to –51·7)
–60·6%
(–67·9
to –51·6)
–61·4%
(–68·5
to –52·6)
–65·3%
(–69·1
to –60·7)
–65·9%
(–69·7
to –61·4)
–60·7%
(–67·9
to –51·7)
–61·4%
(–68·5
to –52·7)
Numbers in parentheses are 95% uncertainty intervals.
Table 2: Global prevalence, incidence, deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs in counts and age-standardised rates for both sexes, females, and males, 2019, with percentage change between 2010 and 2019
Deaths YLLs YLDs DALYs
1990 13th 8th 114th 9th
2010 44th 21st 140th 37th
2019 77th 42nd 154th 71st
Table 3: Rank among Level 3 causes for global deaths, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs in 1990, 2010, and 2019, for both sexes combined
Figure 1: Composition of DALYs by YLLs and YLDs for both sexes combined, 2019
Figure 2: Percentage of DALYs attributable to top risk factors, 2019
No Legend
Figure 3: Age-standardised DALY rates for each location by SDI, 2019
Figure 4: Composition of DALYs by YLLs and YLDs, age group, and sex, 2019
No Legend
Figure 5: Age-standardised DALY rates (per 100 000) by location, both sexes, 2019