Share of people with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa
South Africa: Share of people with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy was 81.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of people with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of people living with HIV.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa is 81.0%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 65.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa peaked at 81.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
That places South Africa 49th out of 143 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of people with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of people living with HIV | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 1.0% | — |
| 2003 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.0% | +100.0% |
| 2005 | 4.0% | +100.0% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | +50.0% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +66.7% |
| 2008 | 14.0% | +40.0% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | +35.7% |
| 2010 | 25.0% | +31.6% |
| 2011 | 33.0% | +32.0% |
| 2012 | 40.0% | +21.2% |
| 2013 | 45.0% | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 49.0% | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 54.0% | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 60.0% | +11.1% |
| 2017 | 66.0% | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 75.0% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 77.0% | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 78.0% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 79.0% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 81.0% | +2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.7% | 0.0% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.5% | 25.0% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.0% | 75.0% | 81.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 49 Tajikistan 81.0% compare
- 51 Cape Verde 80.0% compare
- 51 Peru 80.0% 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)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0422 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 0.5965 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0391 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa?
- Share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy in South Africa was 81.0% in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 143 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of people with hiv who receive antiretroviral therapy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Antiretroviral therapy is a combination of several antiretroviral medicines, used to slow the rate at which HIV multiplies inside the body.