What is the difference in hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

12.5%, with South Africa ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?

5 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2009.

Where does this data come from?

UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, published as HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; low estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years

South Africa

17.2%

in 2009

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

4.7%

in 2009

South Africa rank

4th

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank

1st

HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years over time

South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 17.2% against 4.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), a difference of 12.5%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 3.7 times Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s.

Across all 5 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 4th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 1st of 48 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 1 decades both report.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: South Africa, at 17.2% against 4.7% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) as of 2009.
What is the difference in hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: 12.5%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?: 5 years are reported by both, from 2001 to 2009.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for hiv prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years?: South Africa ranks 4th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 1st of 48 countries.
Where does this data come from?: UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, published as HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; low estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years. Statizoid, drawing on UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/hiv-prevalence-rate-adult-15-49-years-percent-low-estimate/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/compare/hiv-prevalence-rate-adult-15-49-years-percent-low-estimate/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/">South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: HIV prevalence rate, adult 15-49 years (%; low estimate)
Unit: %; low estimate
Source: UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 49 places, 965 data points, 1990–2009
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Prevalence of HIV refers to the percentage of people ages 15-49 who are infected with HIV based on a low estimate.