Prevalence of HIV, total in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence of HIV, total was 3.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
3.0%
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
3rd
of 26 groups
All-time high
5.1%
in 1999
All-time low
2.7%
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Prevalence of HIV, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024

02461990200720241990: 2.7 % of population ages 15-491991: 3.1 % of population ages 15-491992: 3.6 % of population ages 15-491993: 4 % of population ages 15-491994: 4.3 % of population ages 15-491995: 4.6 % of population ages 15-491996: 4.8 % of population ages 15-491997: 5 % of population ages 15-491998: 5.1 % of population ages 15-491999: 5.1 % of population ages 15-492000: 5.1 % of population ages 15-492001: 5 % of population ages 15-492002: 5 % of population ages 15-492003: 4.9 % of population ages 15-492004: 4.8 % of population ages 15-492005: 4.6 % of population ages 15-492006: 4.5 % of population ages 15-492007: 4.4 % of population ages 15-492008: 4.4 % of population ages 15-492009: 4.3 % of population ages 15-492010: 4.3 % of population ages 15-492011: 4.2 % of population ages 15-492012: 4.2 % of population ages 15-492013: 4.1 % of population ages 15-492014: 4.1 % of population ages 15-492015: 4 % of population ages 15-492016: 3.9 % of population ages 15-492017: 3.8 % of population ages 15-492018: 3.7 % of population ages 15-492019: 3.6 % of population ages 15-492020: 3.5 % of population ages 15-492021: 3.4 % of population ages 15-492022: 3.3 % of population ages 15-492023: 3.1 % of population ages 15-492024: 3 % of population ages 15-49

Source: UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Measured in % of population ages 15-49.

Analysis

The most recent figure for prevalence of hiv, total in Sub-Saharan Africa is 3.0%, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of hiv, total in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 5.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1990.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 3rd out of 26 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Prevalence of HIV, total in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year % of population ages 15-49 Change
1990 2.7%
1991 3.1% +17.1%
1992 3.6% +14.0%
1993 4.0% +11.1%
1994 4.3% +8.3%
1995 4.6% +6.2%
1996 4.8% +4.8%
1997 5.0% +3.4%
1998 5.1% +2.1%
1999 5.1% +0.7%
2000 5.1% -0.2%
2001 5.0% -1.0%
2002 5.0% -1.6%
2003 4.9% -2.0%
2004 4.8% -2.3%
2005 4.6% -2.7%
2006 4.5% -2.1%
2007 4.4% -1.9%
2008 4.4% -1.6%
2009 4.3% -1.1%
2010 4.3% -0.9%
2011 4.2% -1.4%
2012 4.2% -0.9%
2013 4.1% -1.8%
2014 4.1% -0.9%
2015 4.0% -1.8%
2016 3.9% -1.8%
2017 3.8% -3.0%
2018 3.7% -2.0%
2019 3.6% -3.0%
2020 3.5% -3.1%
2021 3.4% -2.8%
2022 3.3% -3.7%
2023 3.1% -4.2%
2024 3.0% -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 4.2% 2.7% 5.1% 10
2000s 4.7% 4.3% 5.1% 10
2010s 4.0% 3.6% 4.3% 10
2020s 3.3% 3.0% 3.5% 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 Eswatini 23.4% compare
  2. 2 South Africa 17.2% compare
  3. 3 Lesotho 17.1% compare
  4. 4 Botswana 15.7% compare
  5. 5 Mozambique 11.5% compare
  6. 6 Zimbabwe 9.8% compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of hiv, total in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Prevalence of hiv, total in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.0% in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
What is the highest prevalence of hiv, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 5.1% in 1999.
What is the lowest prevalence of hiv, total recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for prevalence of hiv, total?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 3rd out of 26 groups with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of hiv, total rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan 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, total (% of population ages 15-49). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of HIV, total in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-hiv-total-percent-of-population-ages-15-49/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49)
Unit
% of population ages 15-49
Source
UNAIDS estimates, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 6,127 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

Prevalence of HIV refers to the percentage of people ages 15-49 who are infected with HIV.