Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa
South Africa: Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy was 91,599 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa is 91,599, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa peaked at 178,143 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 334, in 2000.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 334 | — |
| 2001 | 1,212 | +262.9% |
| 2002 | 2,167 | +78.8% |
| 2003 | 3,319 | +53.2% |
| 2004 | 7,575 | +128.2% |
| 2005 | 17,145 | +126.3% |
| 2006 | 30,390 | +77.3% |
| 2007 | 46,276 | +52.3% |
| 2008 | 65,644 | +41.9% |
| 2009 | 90,055 | +37.2% |
| 2010 | 115,238 | +28.0% |
| 2011 | 134,811 | +17.0% |
| 2012 | 150,796 | +11.9% |
| 2013 | 163,601 | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 171,295 | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 176,584 | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 178,143 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 174,843 | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 168,910 | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 160,400 | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 149,135 | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 136,604 | -8.4% |
| 2022 | 123,893 | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 111,261 | -10.2% |
| 2024 | 99,922 | -10.2% |
| 2025 | 91,599 | -8.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 91,599 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 125.5, 729.9× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 91,599 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,604, 25.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +262.9% | 334 | 1,212 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26,412 | 334 | 90,055 | 10 |
| 2010s | 159,462 | 115,238 | 178,143 | 10 |
| 2020s | 118,736 | 91,599 | 149,135 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mozambique 95,216 compare
- 3 Uganda 46,811 compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 45,096 compare
- 5 Kenya 41,338 compare
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 reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa?
- Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa was 91,599 in 2025, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 178,143 in 2016.
- What is the lowest reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 334 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 123 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Reported number of children receiving antiretroviral therapy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO).