Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 was 15.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
15.9%
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
3rd
of 143 countries
All-time high
18.0%
in 2016
All-time low
12.7%
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 15.9% for prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa peaked at 18.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 143 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.7% | — |
| 2001 | 13.4% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 15.2% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 15.5% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 16.6% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 17.1% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 17.4% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 17.6% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 17.8% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 17.9% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 18.0% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 18.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 18.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 17.9% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 17.7% | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 17.1% | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 16.7% | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 15.9% | -3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4%, 39.8× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.4%, 11.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14.9% | 12.7% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.7% | 16.9% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 15.9% | 17.7% | 6 |
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 prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa?
- Prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 in South Africa was 15.9% in 2025, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 143 countries with data for 2025.
- Is prevalence of hiv among adults aged 15 to 49 rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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