Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate) in South Africa
South Africa: Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate) was 1.60 million low estimate in 2009. ◆ Volatile
Orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa, 1990–2009
Source: UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Measured in low estimate.
Analysis
In 2009, orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa stood at 1.60 million low estimate. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 595.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa peaked at 1.60 million low estimate in 2009 and was at its lowest, 2,300 low estimate, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 2nd of 40 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | low estimate | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,300 low estimate | — |
| 1991 | 4,300 low estimate | +87.0% |
| 1992 | 7,800 low estimate | +81.4% |
| 1993 | 14,000 low estimate | +79.5% |
| 1994 | 22,000 low estimate | +57.1% |
| 1995 | 37,000 low estimate | +68.2% |
| 1996 | 59,000 low estimate | +59.5% |
| 1997 | 97,000 low estimate | +64.4% |
| 1998 | 150,000 low estimate | +54.6% |
| 1999 | 230,000 low estimate | +53.3% |
| 2000 | 340,000 low estimate | +47.8% |
| 2001 | 460,000 low estimate | +35.3% |
| 2002 | 610,000 low estimate | +32.6% |
| 2003 | 770,000 low estimate | +26.2% |
| 2004 | 950,000 low estimate | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 1.10 million low estimate | +15.8% |
| 2006 | 1.30 million low estimate | +18.2% |
| 2007 | 1.40 million low estimate | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 1.50 million low estimate | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 1.60 million low estimate | +6.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.60 million low estimate is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 75,000 low estimate, 21.3× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.60 million low estimate is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12,000 low estimate, 133.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 62,340 low estimate | 2,300 low estimate | 230,000 low estimate | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.00 million low estimate | 340,000 low estimate | 1.60 million low estimate | 10 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa?
- Orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa was 1.60 million low estimate in 2009, according to UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.
- What is the highest orphans 0-17 years currently living recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.60 million low estimate in 2009.
- What is the lowest orphans 0-17 years currently living recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,300 low estimate in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for orphans 0-17 years currently living?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 40 countries with data for 2009.
- Is orphans 0-17 years currently living rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 595.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, published as part of Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
AIDS orphans are the estimated number of children who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS before age 17 since the epidemic began in 1990. Some of the orphaned children included in this cumulative total are no longer alive; others are no longer under age 17.