The death toll before modern science developed modern treatments for malaria. Death toll is still high because of the lack of modern treatment; ~435,000 in 2017, a drop since 2010, which is estimated by 1,2 million. The numbers reflect the access to modern medical treatment. Global instability in many countries restricted the access of modern treatment. In 1980 the death toll was 995,000, and increased with the limited access of modern medical treatment.
See:
Global malaria mortality between 1980 and 2010: a systematic analysis
See:
US Malaria Deaths, 1870
US Malaria Deaths, 1870
By Lauren Urban US Malaria Deaths, 1870 While malaria still kills over 1 million people each year, most of those deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa—the United States has been free of the disease since 1951. In the 19th century, however, malaria was extremely common within the United States, with over 1 million cases reported during the Civil War alone. The map below depicts deaths from malaria in 1870—10 years before the malaria parasite.
Due to immigration and other sources of malaria musquitos the death toll in the USA in recent years we are not free of the disease, but the death toll remains very low.
Many developed countries like the USA have reduced the death toll due to malaria to minimal levels. down from 70 deaths per 1000 in the South and southern midwest of the USA
This reference gives the timeline of malaria dn medical treatment history:
Timeline of malaria - Wikipedia
The conclusion is clear and specific the more available medical technology, and other modern technologies that are available based on science the lower the incidence of malaria and the lower the death toll.