Antiretroviral therapy coverage in South Africa
South Africa: Antiretroviral therapy coverage was 81.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Antiretroviral therapy coverage in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Measured in % of people living with HIV.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 81.0% for antiretroviral therapy coverage 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, antiretroviral therapy coverage in South Africa peaked at 81.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 49th of 143 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Antiretroviral therapy coverage 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 81.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 65.5%, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 81.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.5%, 99% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Antiretroviral therapy coverage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +100.0% | 1.0% | 2.0% |
| 2005 | +100.0% | 2.0% | 4.0% |
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)
- 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 antiretroviral therapy coverage in South Africa?
- Antiretroviral therapy coverage in South Africa was 81.0% in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- What is the highest antiretroviral therapy coverage recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest antiretroviral therapy coverage recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for antiretroviral therapy coverage?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 143 countries with data for 2024.
- Is antiretroviral therapy coverage 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, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), published as part of Antiretroviral therapy coverage (% of people living with HIV). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Antiretroviral therapy coverage indicates the percentage of all people living with HIV who are receiving antiretroviral therapy.