Orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa

South Africa: Orphans 0-17 years currently living was 1.60 million low estimate in 2009. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2009)
1.60 million low estimate
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
2nd
of 40 countries
All-time high
1.60 million low estimate
in 2009
All-time low
2,300 low estimate
in 1990
Years of data
20
1990–2009

Orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa, 1990–2009

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1990199920091990: 2.3k low estimate1991: 4.3k low estimate1992: 7.8k low estimate1993: 14.0k low estimate1994: 22.0k low estimate1995: 37.0k low estimate1996: 59.0k low estimate1997: 97.0k low estimate1998: 150.0k low estimate1999: 230.0k low estimate2000: 340.0k low estimate2001: 460.0k low estimate2002: 610.0k low estimate2003: 770.0k low estimate2004: 950.0k low estimate2005: 1.1M low estimate2006: 1.3M low estimate2007: 1.4M low estimate2008: 1.5M low estimate2009: 1.6M low estimate

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 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate) in South Africa, 1990 to 2009.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 1 Nigeria 1.80 million low estimate compare
  2. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.10 million low estimate compare
  3. 4 Uganda 1.00 million low estimate compare
  4. 5 Kenya 980,000 low estimate compare

See the full ranking of 45 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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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Orphans 0-17 years currently living in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/orphans-0-17-years-currently-living-low-estimate/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Orphans 0-17 years currently living (low estimate)
Unit
low estimate
Source
UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
45 places, 900 data points, 1990–2009
Last refreshed

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.