Children living with hiv in South Africa
South Africa: Children living with hiv was 150,000 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
150,000
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
2nd
of 88 countries
All-time high
360,000
in 2008
All-time low
13,000
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Children living with hiv in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 150,000 for children living with hiv in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children living with hiv in South Africa peaked at 360,000 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 13,000, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 88 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Children living with hiv in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13,000 | — |
| 1991 | 21,000 | +61.5% |
| 1992 | 31,000 | +47.6% |
| 1993 | 45,000 | +45.2% |
| 1994 | 62,000 | +37.8% |
| 1995 | 82,000 | +32.3% |
| 1996 | 100,000 | +22.0% |
| 1997 | 130,000 | +30.0% |
| 1998 | 160,000 | +23.1% |
| 1999 | 180,000 | +12.5% |
| 2000 | 210,000 | +16.7% |
| 2001 | 240,000 | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 270,000 | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 290,000 | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 310,000 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 330,000 | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 340,000 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 350,000 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 360,000 | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 360,000 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 360,000 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 350,000 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 340,000 | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 330,000 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 320,000 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 310,000 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 290,000 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 280,000 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 260,000 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 240,000 | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 220,000 | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 200,000 | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 180,000 | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 160,000 | -11.1% |
| 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 890, 168.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 150,000 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,050, 18.6× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82,400 | 13,000 | 180,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 306,000 | 210,000 | 360,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 308,000 | 240,000 | 360,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,000 | 150,000 | 220,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mozambique 180,000 compare
- 3 Uganda 71,000 compare
- 4 Democratic Republic of Congo 69,000 compare
- 5 Tanzania 67,000 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 children living with hiv in South Africa?
- Children living with hiv in South Africa was 150,000 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 360,000 in 2008.
- What is the lowest children living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,000 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for children living with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children living with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Children living with hiv. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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