Estimated number of people (all ages) living with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Estimated number of people (all ages) living with HIV was 7.60 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
7.60 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
1st
of 143 countries
All-time high
7.60 million
in 2025
All-time low
3.40 million
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Estimated number of people (all ages) living with HIV in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 7.60 million for estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv in South Africa peaked at 7.60 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.40 million, in 2000.
That places South Africa 1st out of 143 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Estimated number of people (all ages) living with HIV in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.40 million | — |
| 2001 | 3.60 million | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 3.90 million | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 4.10 million | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 4.30 million | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 4.50 million | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 4.70 million | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 4.90 million | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 5.10 million | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 5.30 million | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 5.50 million | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 5.70 million | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 5.90 million | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 6.10 million | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 6.30 million | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 6.50 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 6.70 million | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 6.80 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 7.00 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 7.10 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 7.20 million | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 7.30 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 7.40 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 7.40 million | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 7.50 million | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 7.60 million | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.60 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 28,000, 271.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.60 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 130,000, 58.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.38 million | 3.40 million | 5.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.36 million | 5.50 million | 7.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.40 million | 7.20 million | 7.60 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 2 Mozambique 2.50 million compare
- 3 Nigeria 2.00 million compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.80 million 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 estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv in South Africa?
- Estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv in South Africa was 7.60 million in 2025, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.60 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.40 million in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 143 countries with data for 2025.
- Is estimated number of people (all ages) living with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Estimated number of people (all ages) living with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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