Each component of the original 2007 global map [3] has been completely updated and revised. The modelling process is displayed schematically in Figure 1 and full details on all aspects of the methodology and input data are included in Additional Files 1, 2, 3, 4 &5. In brief, 85 countries were first identified as endemic for P. falciparum in 2010. From these, P. falciparum annual parasite incidence (PfAPI) routine case reports were assembled from 13,449 administrative units, representing a 53% increase in the number of mapped units over the 2007 assembly [37]. These PfAPI and other medical intelligence data were combined with remote sensing surfaces and biological models [38] that identified areas where extreme aridity or temperature regimes would limit or preclude transmission. Following procedures