People living with HIV/AIDS, total in South Africa

South Africa: People living with HIV/AIDS, total was 5.60 million in 2009. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2009)
5.60 million
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 47 countries
All-time high
5.60 million
in 2008
All-time low
140,000
in 1990
Years of data
20
1990–2009

People living with HIV/AIDS, total in South Africa, 1990–2009

02.0M4.0M6.0M1990199920091990: 140.0k1991: 240.0k1992: 380.0k1993: 610.0k1994: 950.0k1995: 1.4M1996: 2.0M1997: 2.6M1998: 3.2M1999: 3.8M2000: 4.2M2001: 4.6M2002: 4.9M2003: 5.1M2004: 5.2M2005: 5.3M2006: 5.4M2007: 5.5M2008: 5.6M2009: 5.6M

Source: UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 5.60 million for people living with hiv/aids, total in 2009. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

The figure is up 47.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people living with hiv/aids, total in South Africa peaked at 5.60 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 140,000, in 1990.

South Africa ranks 1st of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

People living with HIV/AIDS, total in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for People living with HIV/AIDS, total in South Africa, 1990 to 2009.
Year Value Change
1990 140,000
1991 240,000 +71.4%
1992 380,000 +58.3%
1993 610,000 +60.5%
1994 950,000 +55.7%
1995 1.40 million +47.4%
1996 2.00 million +42.9%
1997 2.60 million +30.0%
1998 3.20 million +23.1%
1999 3.80 million +18.8%
2000 4.20 million +10.5%
2001 4.60 million +9.5%
2002 4.90 million +6.5%
2003 5.10 million +4.1%
2004 5.20 million +2.0%
2005 5.30 million +1.9%
2006 5.40 million +1.9%
2007 5.50 million +1.9%
2008 5.60 million +1.8%
2009 5.60 million +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.53 million 140,000 3.80 million 10
2000s 5.14 million 4.20 million 5.60 million 10

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Nigeria 3.30 million compare
  2. 3 Kenya 1.50 million compare
  3. 4 Mozambique 1.40 million compare
  4. 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.40 million compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is people living with hiv/aids, total in South Africa?
People living with hiv/aids, total in South Africa was 5.60 million in 2009, according to UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.
What is the highest people living with hiv/aids, total recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.60 million in 2008.
What is the lowest people living with hiv/aids, total recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 140,000 in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for people living with hiv/aids, total?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 47 countries with data for 2009.
Is people living with hiv/aids, total rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 47.4%. 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 People living with HIV/AIDS, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People living with HIV/AIDS, total in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-living-with-hiv-aids-total/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
People living with HIV/AIDS, total
Source
UNAIDS and the WHO's Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
53 places, 1,057 data points, 1990–2009
Last refreshed

Estimated total number of people with HIV/AIDS is the number of people living with HIV. Depending on the reliability of the data available, there may be more or less uncertainty surrounding each estimate.