Annual number of children newly infected with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Annual number of children newly infected with HIV was 6,600 ages 0-14 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6,600 ages 0-14
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
3rd
of 86 countries
All-time high
82,000 ages 0-14
in 2004
All-time low
6,600 ages 0-14
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Annual number of children newly infected with HIV in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in ages 0-14.
Analysis
In 2024, annual number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa stood at 6,600 ages 0-14. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa peaked at 82,000 ages 0-14 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 6,600 ages 0-14, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 86 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual number of children newly infected with HIV in South Africa, year by year
| Year | ages 0-14 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8,500 ages 0-14 | — |
| 1991 | 13,000 ages 0-14 | +52.9% |
| 1992 | 19,000 ages 0-14 | +46.2% |
| 1993 | 26,000 ages 0-14 | +36.8% |
| 1994 | 33,000 ages 0-14 | +26.9% |
| 1995 | 41,000 ages 0-14 | +24.2% |
| 1996 | 49,000 ages 0-14 | +19.5% |
| 1997 | 56,000 ages 0-14 | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 62,000 ages 0-14 | +10.7% |
| 1999 | 69,000 ages 0-14 | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 73,000 ages 0-14 | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 76,000 ages 0-14 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 78,000 ages 0-14 | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 80,000 ages 0-14 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 82,000 ages 0-14 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 77,000 ages 0-14 | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 69,000 ages 0-14 | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 61,000 ages 0-14 | -11.6% |
| 2008 | 49,000 ages 0-14 | -19.7% |
| 2009 | 35,000 ages 0-14 | -28.6% |
| 2010 | 25,000 ages 0-14 | -28.6% |
| 2011 | 19,000 ages 0-14 | -24.0% |
| 2012 | 17,000 ages 0-14 | -10.5% |
| 2013 | 15,000 ages 0-14 | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 13,000 ages 0-14 | -13.3% |
| 2015 | 12,000 ages 0-14 | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 12,000 ages 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12,000 ages 0-14 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11,000 ages 0-14 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 9,700 ages 0-14 | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 9,000 ages 0-14 | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 8,600 ages 0-14 | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 7,900 ages 0-14 | -8.1% |
| 2023 | 7,200 ages 0-14 | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 6,600 ages 0-14 | -8.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6,600 ages 0-14 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 100 ages 0-14, 66.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6,600 ages 0-14 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,000 ages 0-14, 6.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37,650 ages 0-14 | 8,500 ages 0-14 | 69,000 ages 0-14 | 10 |
| 2000s | 68,000 ages 0-14 | 35,000 ages 0-14 | 82,000 ages 0-14 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,570 ages 0-14 | 9,700 ages 0-14 | 25,000 ages 0-14 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,860 ages 0-14 | 6,600 ages 0-14 | 9,000 ages 0-14 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mozambique 16,000 ages 0-14 compare
- 2 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 9,100 ages 0-14 compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 5,100 ages 0-14 compare
- 5 Uganda 4,700 ages 0-14 compare
- 6 Angola 4,500 ages 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)
- 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 annual number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa?
- Annual number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa was 6,600 ages 0-14 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 82,000 ages 0-14 in 2004.
- What is the lowest annual number of children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,600 ages 0-14 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for annual number of children newly infected with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 86 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual number of children newly infected with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Annual number of children newly infected with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual number of new cases of HIV in children aged 0-14 years old.