Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV was 150,000 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Analysis
In 2024, adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv in South Africa stood at 150,000.
That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and down 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv in South Africa peaked at 460,000 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 110,000, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 1st of 140 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 110,000 | — |
| 1991 | 160,000 | +45.5% |
| 1992 | 220,000 | +37.5% |
| 1993 | 280,000 | +27.3% |
| 1994 | 340,000 | +21.4% |
| 1995 | 390,000 | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 430,000 | +10.3% |
| 1997 | 460,000 | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 460,000 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 460,000 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 450,000 | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 430,000 | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 410,000 | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 390,000 | -4.9% |
| 2004 | 380,000 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 360,000 | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 350,000 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 340,000 | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 330,000 | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 320,000 | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 310,000 | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 300,000 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 280,000 | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 270,000 | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 260,000 | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 250,000 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 230,000 | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 210,000 | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 200,000 | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 190,000 | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 180,000 | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 170,000 | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 160,000 | -5.9% |
| 2023 | 160,000 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 150,000 | -6.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 150,000 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 880, 170.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 150,000 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,700, 40.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +45.5% | 110,000 | 160,000 |
| 1992 | +37.5% | 160,000 | 220,000 |
| 1993 | +27.3% | 220,000 | 280,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 331,000 | 110,000 | 460,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 376,000 | 320,000 | 450,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 250,000 | 190,000 | 310,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 164,000 | 150,000 | 180,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 2 Mozambique 70,000 compare
- 3 Tanzania 36,000 compare
- 4 Philippines 30,000 compare
- 4 Uganda 30,000 compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv in South Africa?
- Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv in South Africa was 150,000 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- What is the highest adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 460,000 in 1997.
- What is the lowest adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 110,000 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 140 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), published as part of Adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of adults (ages 15-49) newly infected with HIV.