Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa
South Africa: Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS was 630,000 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: UNAIDS estimates.
Analysis
The most recent figure for children orphaned by hiv/aids in South Africa is 630,000, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 10.0% on the previous year and down 55.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, children orphaned by hiv/aids in South Africa peaked at 1.70 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 30,000, in 1990.
South Africa ranks 5th of 138 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 202,900 | 30,000 | 550,000 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 million | 690,000 | 1.70 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.39 million | 1.00 million | 1.70 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 784,000 | 630,000 | 950,000 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Age population, age 13, female, interpolated 530,309 (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female 8.2% (2025)
- Population ages 65 and above, female 2.73 million (2025)
- Age population, age 15, female, interpolated 540,082 (2025)
- Age population, age 14, male, interpolated 539,301 (2025)
- Age population, age 14, female, interpolated 535,290 (2025)
- Age population, age 13, male, interpolated 533,937 (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 518,894 (2025)
- Age population, age 10, female, interpolated 512,828 (2025)
- Age population, age 10, male, interpolated 515,776 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is children orphaned by hiv/aids in South Africa?
- Children orphaned by hiv/aids in South Africa was 630,000 in 2024, according to UNAIDS estimates.
- What is the highest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.70 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest children orphaned by hiv/aids recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 30,000 in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for children orphaned by hiv/aids?
- South Africa ranks 5th out of 138 countries with data for 2024.
- Is children orphaned by hiv/aids rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNAIDS estimates, published as part of Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is the estimated number of children who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS before age 15 since the epidemic began. Some of the orphaned children included in this cumulative total are no longer alive; others are no longer under age 15.