Children newly infected with HIV in South Africa
South Africa: Children newly infected with HIV was 6,612 infections in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6,612 infections
Change on year
down 7.8%
World rank
3rd
of 86 countries
All-time high
82,075 infections
in 2004
All-time low
6,612 infections
in 2024
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Children newly infected with HIV in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in infections.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children newly infected with hiv in South Africa is 6,612 infections, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 49.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children newly infected with hiv in South Africa peaked at 82,075 infections in 2004 and was at its lowest, 6,612 infections, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 3rd of 86 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Children newly infected with HIV in South Africa, year by year
| Year | infections | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8,526 infections | — |
| 1991 | 12,931 infections | +51.7% |
| 1992 | 18,750 infections | +45.0% |
| 1993 | 25,672 infections | +36.9% |
| 1994 | 33,334 infections | +29.8% |
| 1995 | 41,214 infections | +23.6% |
| 1996 | 49,384 infections | +19.8% |
| 1997 | 55,794 infections | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 61,813 infections | +10.8% |
| 1999 | 68,677 infections | +11.1% |
| 2000 | 72,928 infections | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 76,117 infections | +4.4% |
| 2002 | 77,604 infections | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 79,942 infections | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 82,075 infections | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 76,830 infections | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 69,066 infections | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 60,637 infections | -12.2% |
| 2008 | 49,402 infections | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 35,469 infections | -28.2% |
| 2010 | 24,600 infections | -30.6% |
| 2011 | 19,075 infections | -22.5% |
| 2012 | 16,908 infections | -11.4% |
| 2013 | 14,937 infections | -11.7% |
| 2014 | 12,976 infections | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 12,148 infections | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 12,393 infections | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 11,717 infections | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 11,002 infections | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 9,690 infections | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 8,957 infections | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 8,617 infections | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 7,904 infections | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 7,170 infections | -9.3% |
| 2024 | 6,612 infections | -7.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6,612 infections is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 66.92 infections, 98.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6,612 infections is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,025 infections, 6.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37,609 infections | 8,526 infections | 68,677 infections | 10 |
| 2000s | 68,007 infections | 35,469 infections | 82,075 infections | 10 |
| 2010s | 14,545 infections | 9,690 infections | 24,600 infections | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,852 infections | 6,612 infections | 8,957 infections | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mozambique 16,439 infections compare
- 2 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 9,053 infections compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 5,140 infections compare
- 5 Uganda 4,733 infections compare
- 6 Angola 4,531 infections 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 children newly infected with hiv in South Africa?
- Children newly infected with hiv in South Africa was 6,612 infections in 2024, according to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 82,075 infections in 2004.
- What is the lowest children newly infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,612 infections in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for children newly infected with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 86 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children newly infected with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Children newly infected with HIV. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people aged 0-14 newly infected with HIV in the last 12 months. This is the central estimate.