Prevalence of HIV, total in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of HIV, total was 17.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of HIV, total in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of population ages 15-49.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of hiv, total in South Africa stood at 17.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of hiv, total in South Africa peaked at 18.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1990.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 152 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.
Prevalence of HIV, total in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of population ages 15-49 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.5% | — |
| 1991 | 2.3% | +53.3% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +43.5% |
| 1993 | 4.6% | +39.4% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | +30.4% |
| 1995 | 7.5% | +25.0% |
| 1996 | 9.0% | +20.0% |
| 1997 | 10.4% | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 11.7% | +12.5% |
| 1999 | 12.9% | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 13.8% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 14.5% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 15.1% | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 15.8% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 16.1% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 16.6% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 17.4% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 17.7% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 18.1% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 18.5% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 18.6% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 18.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 18.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 18.4% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 17.2% | -2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.4%, 43.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.5%, 11.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Prevalence of HIV, total 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 | +53.3% | 1.5% | 2.3% |
| 1992 | +43.5% | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| 1993 | +39.4% | 3.3% | 4.6% |
| 1994 | +30.4% | 4.6% | 6.0% |
| 1995 | +25.0% | 6.0% | 7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.9% | 1.5% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.8% | 13.8% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.2% | 17.4% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.9% | 17.2% | 18.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of hiv, total in South Africa?
- Prevalence of hiv, total in South Africa was 17.2% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest prevalence of hiv, total recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 2016.
- What is the lowest prevalence of hiv, total recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of hiv, total?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of hiv, total rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release