Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

South Africa: Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy was 6.13 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
6.13 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
1st
of 143 countries
All-time high
6.13 million
in 2025
All-time low
6,228
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, 2000–2025

02.0M4.0M6.0M2000201220252000: 6.2k2001: 13.3k2002: 24.5k2003: 38.4k2004: 79.3k2005: 167.3k2006: 303.3k2007: 493.5k2008: 733.2k2009: 1.0M2010: 1.4M2011: 1.9M2012: 2.4M2013: 2.8M2014: 3.2M2015: 3.7M2016: 4.1M2017: 4.6M2018: 5.0M2019: 5.3M2020: 5.6M2021: 5.8M2022: 5.9M2023: 6.1M2024: 6.1M2025: 6.1M

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa is 6.13 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 67.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa peaked at 6.13 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,228, in 2000.

South Africa ranks 1st of 143 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa, 2000 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2000 6,228
2001 13,329 +114.0%
2002 24,509 +83.9%
2003 38,429 +56.8%
2004 79,330 +106.4%
2005 167,261 +110.8%
2006 303,294 +81.3%
2007 493,512 +62.7%
2008 733,215 +48.6%
2009 1.04 million +41.6%
2010 1.42 million +36.9%
2011 1.92 million +35.0%
2012 2.42 million +26.2%
2013 2.83 million +16.7%
2014 3.23 million +14.2%
2015 3.66 million +13.5%
2016 4.14 million +13.0%
2017 4.61 million +11.3%
2018 5.00 million +8.4%
2019 5.32 million +6.6%
2020 5.57 million +4.7%
2021 5.76 million +3.4%
2022 5.93 million +2.8%
2023 6.07 million +2.3%
2024 6.08 million +0.3%
2025 6.13 million +0.7%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 6.13 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16,542, 370.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 6.13 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 85,682, 71.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 289,752 6,228 1.04 million 10
2010s 3.46 million 1.42 million 5.32 million 10
2020s 5.92 million 5.57 million 6.13 million 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Mozambique 2.07 million compare
  2. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.56 million compare
  3. 4 Nigeria 1.55 million compare

See the full ranking of 153 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa?
Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa was 6.13 million in 2025, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 6.13 million in 2025.
What is the lowest reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 6,228 in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 143 countries with data for 2025.
Is reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 67.2%. 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 people receiving antiretroviral therapy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/reported-number-of-people-receiving-antiretroviral-therapy/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Reported number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
153 places, 3,899 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed