Children living with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Children living with HIV was 150,000 0-14 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
150,000 0-14
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
2nd
of 88 countries
All-time high
360,000 0-14
in 2008
All-time low
13,000 0-14
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Children living with HIV in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in 0-14.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 150,000 0-14 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 0-14 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 13,000 0-14, 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 | 0-14 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13,000 0-14 | — |
| 1991 | 21,000 0-14 | +61.5% |
| 1992 | 31,000 0-14 | +47.6% |
| 1993 | 45,000 0-14 | +45.2% |
| 1994 | 62,000 0-14 | +37.8% |
| 1995 | 82,000 0-14 | +32.3% |
| 1996 | 100,000 0-14 | +22.0% |
| 1997 | 130,000 0-14 | +30.0% |
| 1998 | 160,000 0-14 | +23.1% |
| 1999 | 180,000 0-14 | +12.5% |
| 2000 | 210,000 0-14 | +16.7% |
| 2001 | 240,000 0-14 | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 270,000 0-14 | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 290,000 0-14 | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 310,000 0-14 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 330,000 0-14 | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 340,000 0-14 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 350,000 0-14 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 360,000 0-14 | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 360,000 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 360,000 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 350,000 0-14 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 340,000 0-14 | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 330,000 0-14 | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 320,000 0-14 | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 310,000 0-14 | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 290,000 0-14 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 280,000 0-14 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 260,000 0-14 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 240,000 0-14 | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 220,000 0-14 | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 200,000 0-14 | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 180,000 0-14 | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 160,000 0-14 | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 150,000 0-14 | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82,400 0-14 | 13,000 0-14 | 180,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 306,000 0-14 | 210,000 0-14 | 360,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 308,000 0-14 | 240,000 0-14 | 360,000 0-14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,000 0-14 | 150,000 0-14 | 220,000 0-14 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mozambique 180,000 0-14 compare
- 3 Uganda 71,000 0-14 compare
- 4 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 69,000 0-14 compare
- 5 Tanzania, United Republic of 67,000 0-14 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)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 314 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,778 (2025)
- Measles - number of reported cases, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children living with hiv in South Africa?
- Children living with hiv in South Africa was 150,000 0-14 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 360,000 0-14 in 2008.
- What is the lowest children living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,000 0-14 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 UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Children living with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children aged 0-14 infected with HIV.