Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa

South Africa: Number of children newly infected with hiv was 6,600 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6,600
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
3rd
of 86 countries
All-time high
82,000
in 2004
All-time low
6,600
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa, 1990–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k1990200720241990: 8.5k1991: 13.0k1992: 19.0k1993: 26.0k1994: 33.0k1995: 41.0k1996: 49.0k1997: 56.0k1998: 62.0k1999: 69.0k2000: 73.0k2001: 76.0k2002: 78.0k2003: 80.0k2004: 82.0k2005: 77.0k2006: 69.0k2007: 61.0k2008: 49.0k2009: 35.0k2010: 25.0k2011: 19.0k2012: 17.0k2013: 15.0k2014: 13.0k2015: 12.0k2016: 12.0k2017: 12.0k2018: 11.0k2019: 9.7k2020: 9.0k2021: 8.6k2022: 7.9k2023: 7.2k2024: 6.6k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2024, number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa stood at 6,600. 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, number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa peaked at 82,000 in 2004 and was at its lowest, 6,600, 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.

Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 8,500 —
1991 13,000 +52.9%
1992 19,000 +46.2%
1993 26,000 +36.8%
1994 33,000 +26.9%
1995 41,000 +24.2%
1996 49,000 +19.5%
1997 56,000 +14.3%
1998 62,000 +10.7%
1999 69,000 +11.3%
2000 73,000 +5.8%
2001 76,000 +4.1%
2002 78,000 +2.6%
2003 80,000 +2.6%
2004 82,000 +2.5%
2005 77,000 -6.1%
2006 69,000 -10.4%
2007 61,000 -11.6%
2008 49,000 -19.7%
2009 35,000 -28.6%
2010 25,000 -28.6%
2011 19,000 -24.0%
2012 17,000 -10.5%
2013 15,000 -11.8%
2014 13,000 -13.3%
2015 12,000 -7.7%
2016 12,000 +0.0%
2017 12,000 +0.0%
2018 11,000 -8.3%
2019 9,700 -11.8%
2020 9,000 -7.2%
2021 8,600 -4.4%
2022 7,900 -8.1%
2023 7,200 -8.9%
2024 6,600 -8.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 6,600 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 100, 66.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 6,600 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,000, 6.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 37,650 8,500 69,000 10
2000s 68,000 35,000 82,000 10
2010s 14,570 9,700 25,000 10
2020s 7,860 6,600 9,000 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 1 Mozambique 16,000 compare
  2. 2 Democratic Republic of Congo 9,100 compare
  3. 4 Tanzania 5,100 compare
  4. 5 Uganda 4,700 compare
  5. 6 Angola 4,500 compare

See the full ranking of 86 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa?
Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa was 6,600 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest number of children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 82,000 in 2004.
What is the lowest number of children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6,600 in 2024.
How does South Africa rank for number of children newly infected with hiv?
South Africa ranks 3rd out of 86 countries with data for 2024.
Is 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Number of children newly infected with hiv. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of children newly infected with hiv in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-children-newly-infected-with-hiv/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of children newly infected with hiv
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
86 places, 3,006 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed