HIV incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa
South Africa: HIV incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age was 5.25 infections per 1,000 people in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.25 infections per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
2nd
of 144 countries
All-time high
23.1 infections per 1,000 people
in 1998
All-time low
5.25 infections per 1,000 people
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024
HIV incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in infections per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2024, hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa stood at 5.25 infections per 1,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 50.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa peaked at 23.1 infections per 1,000 people in 1998 and was at its lowest, 5.25 infections per 1,000 people, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 144 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
HIV incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa, year by year
| Year | infections per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.54 infections per 1,000 people | — |
| 1991 | 9.2 infections per 1,000 people | +40.7% |
| 1992 | 12.23 infections per 1,000 people | +33.0% |
| 1993 | 15.32 infections per 1,000 people | +25.2% |
| 1994 | 18.12 infections per 1,000 people | +18.3% |
| 1995 | 20.32 infections per 1,000 people | +12.2% |
| 1996 | 21.92 infections per 1,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 22.91 infections per 1,000 people | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 23.1 infections per 1,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 22.69 infections per 1,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 21.88 infections per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 20.68 infections per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 19.47 infections per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 18.38 infections per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 17.5 infections per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 16.71 infections per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 16.12 infections per 1,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 15.4 infections per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 14.8 infections per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 14.21 infections per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 13.52 infections per 1,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 12.72 infections per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 12.01 infections per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 11.32 infections per 1,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 10.63 infections per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 10.13 infections per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 9.34 infections per 1,000 people | -7.8% |
| 2017 | 8.44 infections per 1,000 people | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 7.84 infections per 1,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 7.24 infections per 1,000 people | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 6.74 infections per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 6.34 infections per 1,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 5.94 infections per 1,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2023 | 5.54 infections per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 5.25 infections per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.23 infections per 1,000 people | 6.54 infections per 1,000 people | 23.1 infections per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.52 infections per 1,000 people | 14.21 infections per 1,000 people | 21.88 infections per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.32 infections per 1,000 people | 7.24 infections per 1,000 people | 13.52 infections per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.96 infections per 1,000 people | 5.25 infections per 1,000 people | 6.74 infections per 1,000 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 1.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0197 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 0.6835 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.015 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa?
- Hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age in South Africa was 5.25 infections per 1,000 people in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.1 infections per 1,000 people in 1998.
- What is the lowest hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.25 infections per 1,000 people in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 144 countries with data for 2024.
- Is hiv incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of HIV incidence per 1,000 individuals, by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people aged 15-49 newly infected with HIV in the last year per 1,000 uninfected people. This is the central estimate.