Share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population infected with hiv was 17.2 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa stood at 17.2.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa peaked at 18.64 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.46, in 1990.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 150 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.46 | — |
| 1991 | 2.26 | +54.3% |
| 1992 | 3.3 | +45.9% |
| 1993 | 4.55 | +38.1% |
| 1994 | 5.97 | +31.2% |
| 1995 | 7.48 | +25.3% |
| 1996 | 9.01 | +20.4% |
| 1997 | 10.44 | +15.9% |
| 1998 | 11.74 | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 12.86 | +9.5% |
| 2000 | 13.8 | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 14.53 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 15.09 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 15.5 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 15.81 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 16.08 | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 16.31 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 16.56 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 16.84 | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 17.12 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 17.39 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 17.66 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 17.89 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 18.12 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 18.33 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 18.5 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 18.61 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 18.64 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 18.63 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 18.55 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 18.39 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 18.17 | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 17.9 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 17.57 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 17.2 | -2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17.2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4195, 41.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17.2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.51, 11.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population infected with hiv 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 | +54.3% | 1.46 | 2.26 |
| 1992 | +45.9% | 2.26 | 3.3 |
| 1993 | +38.1% | 3.3 | 4.55 |
| 1994 | +31.2% | 4.55 | 5.97 |
| 1995 | +25.3% | 5.97 | 7.48 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.91 | 1.46 | 12.86 | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.77 | 13.8 | 17.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.23 | 17.39 | 18.64 | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.84 | 17.2 | 18.39 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa?
- Share of the population infected with hiv in South Africa was 17.2 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.64 in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of the population infected with hiv recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.46 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population infected with hiv?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 150 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population infected with hiv rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population infected with hiv. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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