Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with HIV was 7.80 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with HIV in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv in South Africa is 7.80 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv in South Africa peaked at 7.80 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 280,000, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 1st of 152 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with HIV in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 280,000 | — |
| 1991 | 450,000 | +60.7% |
| 1992 | 680,000 | +51.1% |
| 1993 | 970,000 | +42.6% |
| 1994 | 1.30 million | +34.0% |
| 1995 | 1.70 million | +30.8% |
| 1996 | 2.10 million | +23.5% |
| 1997 | 2.50 million | +19.0% |
| 1998 | 2.90 million | +16.0% |
| 1999 | 3.30 million | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 3.60 million | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 3.90 million | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 4.20 million | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 4.40 million | +4.8% |
| 2004 | 4.60 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 4.80 million | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 4.90 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 5.10 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 5.30 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 5.50 million | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 5.70 million | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 5.90 million | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 6.10 million | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 6.30 million | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 6.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 6.70 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 6.90 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 7.00 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 7.20 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 7.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 7.40 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 7.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 7.60 million | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 7.70 million | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 7.80 million | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.80 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,000, 410.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.80 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 130,000, 60.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living 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 | +60.7% | 280,000 | 450,000 |
| 1992 | +51.1% | 450,000 | 680,000 |
| 1993 | +42.6% | 680,000 | 970,000 |
| 1994 | +34.0% | 970,000 | 1.30 million |
| 1995 | +30.8% | 1.30 million | 1.70 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.62 million | 280,000 | 3.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.63 million | 3.60 million | 5.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.56 million | 5.70 million | 7.30 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.60 million | 7.40 million | 7.80 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 2 Mozambique 2.50 million compare
- 3 Nigeria 2.00 million compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.80 million 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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv in South Africa?
- Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv in South Africa was 7.80 million in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates.
- What is the highest adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.80 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 280,000 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, published as part of Adults (ages 15+) and children (0-14 years) living with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Adults and children living with HIV refers to the number of people ages 0-49 (adult ages 15-49 and children ages 0-14) who are infected with HIV.