Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Zambia
Zambia: Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS was 350,000 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Zambia, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates.
Analysis
In 2024, children orphaned by hiv/aids in Zambia stood at 350,000.
The figure is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned by hiv/aids in Zambia peaked at 740,000 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 57,000, in 1990.
That places Zambia 11th out of 138 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 57,000 | — |
| 1991 | 79,000 | +38.6% |
| 1992 | 110,000 | +39.2% |
| 1993 | 140,000 | +27.3% |
| 1994 | 170,000 | +21.4% |
| 1995 | 210,000 | +23.5% |
| 1996 | 260,000 | +23.8% |
| 1997 | 300,000 | +15.4% |
| 1998 | 350,000 | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 400,000 | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 440,000 | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 490,000 | +11.4% |
| 2002 | 540,000 | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 590,000 | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 630,000 | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 670,000 | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 700,000 | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 730,000 | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 740,000 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 730,000 | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 720,000 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 710,000 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 690,000 | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 660,000 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 630,000 | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 600,000 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 570,000 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 540,000 | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 530,000 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 510,000 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 480,000 | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 450,000 | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 420,000 | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 390,000 | -7.1% |
| 2024 | 350,000 | -10.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 350,000 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40,000, 8.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 350,000 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 83,500, 4.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 207,600 | 57,000 | 400,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 626,000 | 440,000 | 740,000 | 10 |
| 2010s | 616,000 | 510,000 | 720,000 | 10 |
| 2020s | 418,000 | 350,000 | 480,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 8,894 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0743 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children orphaned by hiv/aids in Zambia?
- Children orphaned by hiv/aids in Zambia was 350,000 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates.
- What is the highest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 740,000 in 2008.
- What is the lowest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,000 in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for children orphaned by hiv/aids?
- Zambia ranks 11th out of 138 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned by hiv/aids rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, published as part of Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is the estimated number of children who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS before age 15 since the epidemic began. Some of the orphaned children included in this cumulative total are no longer alive; others are no longer under age 15.