Prevalence of HIV, female in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of HIV, female was 9.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of HIV, female in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Measured in % ages 15-24.
Analysis
The most recent figure for prevalence of hiv, female in South Africa is 9.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 4.1% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of hiv, female in South Africa peaked at 18.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 1st of 146 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Prevalence of HIV, female in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % ages 15-24 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.6% | — |
| 1991 | 2.6% | +62.5% |
| 1992 | 4.0% | +53.8% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | +45.0% |
| 1994 | 7.9% | +36.2% |
| 1995 | 10.2% | +29.1% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | +21.6% |
| 1997 | 14.4% | +16.1% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | +10.4% |
| 1999 | 17.1% | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 17.9% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 17.4% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 15.8% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 14.8% | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 13.9% | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 13.1% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 12.4% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 12.1% | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 11.5% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 10.3% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 9.8% | -4.9% |
| 2024 | 9.4% | -4.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.1%, 94.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.8%, 12.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Prevalence of HIV, female in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +62.5% | 1.6% | 2.6% |
| 1992 | +53.8% | 2.6% | 4.0% |
| 1993 | +45.0% | 4.0% | 5.8% |
| 1994 | +36.2% | 5.8% | 7.9% |
| 1995 | +29.1% | 7.9% | 10.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.2% | 1.6% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.8% | 14.8% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 11.5% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 9.4% | 11.1% | 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 prevalence of hiv, female in South Africa?
- Prevalence of hiv, female in South Africa was 9.4% in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- What is the highest prevalence of hiv, female recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest prevalence of hiv, female recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of hiv, female?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 146 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of hiv, female rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), published as part of Prevalence of HIV, female (% ages 15-24). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of HIV, female is the percentage of females who are infected with HIV. Youth rates are as a percentage of the relevant age group.