Number of new HIV infections in South Africa
South Africa: Number of new HIV infections was 170,000 Cases in 2024. ▼ Falling
Number of new HIV infections in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Cases.
Analysis
In 2024, number of new hiv infections in South Africa stood at 170,000 Cases. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of new hiv infections in South Africa peaked at 530,000 Cases in 2000 and was at its lowest, 170,000 Cases, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 1st of 142 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Number of new HIV infections in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 530,000 Cases | — |
| 2001 | 520,000 Cases | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 500,000 Cases | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 490,000 Cases | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 470,000 Cases | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 460,000 Cases | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 440,000 Cases | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 420,000 Cases | -4.5% |
| 2008 | 400,000 Cases | -4.8% |
| 2009 | 370,000 Cases | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 350,000 Cases | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 330,000 Cases | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 310,000 Cases | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 300,000 Cases | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 280,000 Cases | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 270,000 Cases | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 260,000 Cases | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 240,000 Cases | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 220,000 Cases | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 210,000 Cases | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 200,000 Cases | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 190,000 Cases | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 180,000 Cases | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 170,000 Cases | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 170,000 Cases | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 460,000 Cases | 370,000 Cases | 530,000 Cases | 10 |
| 2010s | 277,000 Cases | 210,000 Cases | 350,000 Cases | 10 |
| 2020s | 182,000 Cases | 170,000 Cases | 200,000 Cases | 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)
- 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 number of new hiv infections in South Africa?
- Number of new hiv infections in South Africa was 170,000 Cases in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of new hiv infections recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 530,000 Cases in 2000.
- What is the lowest number of new hiv infections recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 170,000 Cases in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for number of new hiv infections?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 142 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of new hiv infections rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of new HIV infections. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated annual number of new HIV infections each year.