Hidden beneath the global HIV statistics lies a devastating, deeply personal truth: in 2022, sub-Saharan Africa was home to two-thirds of the world's population living with HIV, a crisis where a single region shoulders a burden measured in millions of lives lost and forever altered.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 25.6 million people were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, representing 65% of the global total of 39 million
- Eastern and southern Africa accounted for 20.8 million people living with HIV in 2022, with a prevalence rate of 3.9% among adults aged 15-49
- In South Africa, the adult HIV prevalence rate was 19.5% in 2022, the highest in the world, affecting about 7.8 million people
- In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa had 630,000 AIDS-related deaths, 68% of the global 630,000 total
- Eastern and southern Africa accounted for 500,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Western and central Africa saw 110,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2022
- In 2022, 29.8 million PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa were on antiretroviral therapy, 84% of those living with HIV
- South Africa provided ART to 5.8 million people in 2022, 74% of PLHIV
- In Eswatini, 93% of PLHIV were on ART in 2022, highest coverage globally
- In 2022, condom use at last high-risk sex was 65% among youth in sub-Saharan Africa
- Voluntary medical male circumcision covered 30 million men in eastern/southern Africa by 2022, averting 1.5 million infections
- PrEP initiation reached 1 million people in Africa in 2022, mostly in South Africa and Kenya
- In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa had 3.5 million AIDS orphans due to HIV
- Adolescent girls aged 15-19 in sub-Saharan Africa were 3 times more likely to acquire HIV than boys in 2022
- 1.4 million children aged 0-14 were living with HIV in Africa in 2022, 90% in sub-Saharan
Africa still disproportionately bears the global HIV burden with immense loss and varying regional impacts.
Antiretroviral Treatment
- In 2022, 29.8 million PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa were on antiretroviral therapy, 84% of those living with HIV
- South Africa provided ART to 5.8 million people in 2022, 74% of PLHIV
- In Eswatini, 93% of PLHIV were on ART in 2022, highest coverage globally
- Botswana achieved 98% ART coverage among PLHIV in 2022
- Lesotho had 89% of PLHIV on ART in 2022
- In Zimbabwe, 93% ART coverage for adults in 2022
- Mozambique provided ART to 1.3 million, 72% coverage in 2022
- Nigeria had 1.3 million on ART, 69% coverage in 2022
- In 2022, 67% of children aged 0-14 living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa were on ART
- Viral suppression among adults on ART in eastern/southern Africa reached 68% in 2022
- Western/central Africa ART coverage was 58% for PLHIV in 2022
- Uganda's ART coverage was 88% in 2022 for 1.1 million on treatment
- Tanzania had 79% ART coverage, 1.3 million on treatment in 2022
- Zambia achieved 88% coverage, 1.3 million on ART in 2022
- Malawi provided ART to 810,000, 83% coverage in 2022
- In 2022, 10 million people in Africa were on dolutegravir-based regimens
- Pediatric ART coverage in sub-Saharan Africa improved to 67% from 60% in 2021 by 2022
- Pregnant women living with HIV in Africa had 88% ART coverage in 2022
- Drug resistance to first-line ART was 11% in adults in southern Africa in 2022 surveys
- In 2022, PEPFAR supported ART for 20 million people in Africa cumulatively
- Global Fund procured ARVs worth $2.5 billion for Africa in 2022
- Retention on ART after 12 months was 85% in high-performing African countries like Rwanda in 2022
- In 2022, 82% of PLHIV on ART in sub-Saharan Africa were virally suppressed among those tested
- In 2022, 25 million people in Africa received HIV testing services
- Self-testing kits distributed reached 50 million in Africa by 2022 cumulatively
Antiretroviral Treatment Interpretation
The battle against HIV in Africa is a story of remarkable, hard-won progress, yet the sobering statistics reveal a persistent front line where victories for adults, especially in southern Africa, contrast with the unfinished work of protecting children and closing the dangerous gaps in the west and center of the continent.
Mortality and Morbidity
- In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa had 630,000 AIDS-related deaths, 68% of the global 630,000 total
- Eastern and southern Africa accounted for 500,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Western and central Africa saw 110,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2022
- South Africa recorded 110,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Nigeria had 41,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2022
- In Eswatini, 3,200 people died from AIDS-related causes in 2022
- Lesotho reported 5,300 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Botswana had 3,900 AIDS-related deaths in 2022
- Zimbabwe saw 19,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Mozambique recorded 29,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- In 2022, TB was a leading cause of death among PLHIV in Africa, with 160,000 TB/HIV co-deaths in sub-Saharan Africa
- AIDS-related illnesses caused 11 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa as of 2022 estimates
- Life expectancy in high-prevalence countries like Eswatini dropped by 10 years due to AIDS peak impacts lingering into 2022
- In 2022, 71% of PLHIV deaths globally were in Africa, totaling 450,000 in adults
- Maternal mortality linked to HIV in Africa was 5% of total maternal deaths in 2022
- Uganda had 19,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Tanzania reported 28,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2022
- Zambia saw 21,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- Malawi recorded 13,000 AIDS deaths in 2022
- In 2022, 120,000 children under 15 died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
- AIDS contributed to 15% of under-5 mortality in high-burden African countries in 2022
- Co-infection with HIV increased malaria mortality by 20% in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022
- In South Africa, AIDS caused 200,000 total deaths cumulatively since 2000 up to 2022
- Nigeria's AIDS mortality rate was 27 per 100,000 population in 2022
- In 2022, 86% of PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa knew their status, up from 81% in 2021
- In 2022, 77% of adults diagnosed with HIV in Africa were on ART
- AIDS-related cancer incidence rose 10% in PLHIV in Africa due to late diagnosis in 2022
Mortality and Morbidity Interpretation
While the data shows promising progress in testing and treatment, the sheer concentration of AIDS-related mortality in Africa—where one region alone shoulders two-thirds of the world's losses—remains a sobering testament to the human cost of a pandemic that is now fundamentally a story of global inequality.
Prevalence and Incidence
- In 2022, 25.6 million people were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, representing 65% of the global total of 39 million
- Eastern and southern Africa accounted for 20.8 million people living with HIV in 2022, with a prevalence rate of 3.9% among adults aged 15-49
- In South Africa, the adult HIV prevalence rate was 19.5% in 2022, the highest in the world, affecting about 7.8 million people
- Western and central Africa had 5.1 million people living with HIV in 2022, with an adult prevalence of 1.4%
- Nigeria had 1.9 million people living with HIV in 2022, with adult prevalence at 1.3%
- In Eswatini, HIV prevalence among adults aged 15-49 was 27.0% in 2022
- Lesotho reported an adult HIV prevalence of 22.7% in 2022, with 380,000 people living with HIV
- Botswana had 350,000 people living with HIV in 2022, prevalence 20.5% among adults
- Zimbabwe's adult HIV prevalence was 11.6% in 2022, affecting 1.3 million people
- Mozambique had 1.8 million PLHIV in 2022, prevalence 10.2%
- In 2022, women accounted for 62% of adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, totaling about 15.9 million
- Youth aged 15-24 in sub-Saharan Africa had an HIV incidence rate of 0.8% in 2022 among females versus 0.2% for males
- In 2022, HIV prevalence among key populations like sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa averaged 36%
- Men who have sex with men in Africa had HIV prevalence up to 15% in urban areas in 2022 estimates
- People who inject drugs in Africa showed HIV prevalence of 8-10% in countries like Kenya and South Africa in 2022
- In 2022, 1.5 million adolescents aged 10-19 were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
- Uganda had 1.3 million PLHIV in 2022, adult prevalence 5.4%
- Tanzania reported 1.7 million PLHIV, prevalence 4.6% in 2022
- Zambia's adult prevalence was 11.1%, 1.5 million PLHIV in 2022
- Malawi had 970,000 PLHIV, prevalence 8.9% in 2022
- In 2022, new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa totaled 640,000, 67% of global new cases
- Eastern and southern Africa saw 390,000 new HIV infections in 2022
- Western and central Africa had 200,000 new infections in 2022
- South Africa's new HIV infections numbered 140,000 in 2022
- Nigeria recorded 54,000 new HIV infections in 2022
- In Eswatini, incidence rate was 1.5% among adults in 2022
- Lesotho's new infections were 9,000 in 2022
- Botswana had 6,200 new HIV infections in 2022
- Zimbabwe reported 22,000 new cases in 2022
- Mozambique's new infections totaled 37,000 in 2022
Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation
The statistics grimly confirm that sub-Saharan Africa holds a devastating monopoly on this epidemic, with southern nations bearing a particularly crushing human cost.
Prevention and Testing
- In 2022, condom use at last high-risk sex was 65% among youth in sub-Saharan Africa
- Voluntary medical male circumcision covered 30 million men in eastern/southern Africa by 2022, averting 1.5 million infections
- PrEP initiation reached 1 million people in Africa in 2022, mostly in South Africa and Kenya
- PMTCT coverage was 87% for pregnant women living with HIV receiving ART in 2022
- 92% of HIV-exposed infants received ART prophylaxis in eastern/southern Africa in 2022
- HIV testing among adolescent girls and young women in Africa reached 78% in 2022 programs
- Needle-syringe programs reached 1.2 million people who inject drugs in Africa by 2022
- Sex worker outreach programs tested 4.5 million for HIV in Africa in 2022
- DREAMS program in 12 African countries reached 2.5 million AGYW with prevention in 2022
- In South Africa, 15 million condoms distributed monthly in 2022
- Kenya's PrEP users numbered 100,000 in 2022
- Nigeria conducted 20 million HIV tests in 2022
- Elimination of mother-to-child transmission validated in Eswatini in 2022, with <2% transmission rate
- Botswana circumcised 95% of men aged 15-49 by 2022
- In 2022, 70% of MSM knew their HIV status in urban African programs
- School-based HIV education reached 50 million youth in Africa by 2022
- Post-exposure prophylaxis uptake was 50% among survivors of sexual violence in Africa in 2022
- In Uganda, 85% of adults had ever tested for HIV by 2022
- Tanzania's testing coverage among key populations was 75% in 2022
- Zambia distributed 300 million condoms in 2022
Prevention and Testing Interpretation
Africa’s 2022 fight against HIV tells a story of imperfect but persistent progress, where pockets of remarkable success in prevention and testing are still chasing a pandemic that demands even more than 65% condom use and 30 million circumcisions to be truly cornered.
Vulnerable Populations
- In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa had 3.5 million AIDS orphans due to HIV
- Adolescent girls aged 15-19 in sub-Saharan Africa were 3 times more likely to acquire HIV than boys in 2022
- 1.4 million children aged 0-14 were living with HIV in Africa in 2022, 90% in sub-Saharan
- Female sex workers had 30 times higher HIV prevalence than general population in Africa 2022
- MSM prevalence was 8% average in African cities surveyed in 2022
- People who inject drugs had 14 times higher HIV risk in Africa 2022
- In 2022, 25% of new infections in eastern/southern Africa were among AGYW aged 15-24
- Fisherfolk communities in Uganda and Tanzania had HIV prevalence up to 25% in 2022
- Truck drivers along African corridors showed 5-10% HIV prevalence in 2022 surveys
- Prisoners in Africa had HIV prevalence 2-5 times higher, averaging 4.5% in 2022
- In South Africa, 200,000 children orphaned by AIDS annually pre-2022, cumulative 2 million
- Nigeria had 1.1 million children under 18 orphaned by AIDS in 2022
- Adolescent boys in high-prevalence areas had 20% lower school attendance due to AIDS impacts in 2022
- Migrant miners in southern Africa had 15% HIV prevalence in 2022
- In 2022, 40% of PLHIV in Africa were young people under 25
- Female-headed households affected by AIDS increased by 15% in rural Africa 2022
- Transgender populations in urban Africa showed 20% HIV prevalence in 2022 studies
- In Mozambique, 30% of street children tested positive for HIV in targeted 2022 surveys
- Elderly caregivers for AIDS orphans numbered 7 million in sub-Saharan Africa 2022
- In Zambia, sugar plantation workers had 12% HIV prevalence in 2022
Vulnerable Populations Interpretation
While the statistics paint a grim tapestry of an epidemic fueled by inequality—orphaning millions, preying on the young and marginalized, and thriving along the seams of mobility and poverty—the true scandal lies not in the numbers themselves, but in our persistent failure to weave a more just and protective social fabric for those it targets.
Sources & References
- Reference 1UNAIDSunaids.orgVisit source
- Reference 2AIDSINFOaidsinfo.unaids.orgVisit source
- Reference 3WHOwho.intVisit source
- Reference 4DATAdata.unicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 5WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 6STATSSAstatssa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 7IARCiarc.who.intVisit source
- Reference 8STATEstate.govVisit source
- Reference 9THEGLOBALFUNDtheglobalfund.orgVisit source
- Reference 10PEPFARpepfar.govVisit source
- Reference 11NASCOPnascop.orgVisit source
- Reference 12UNICEFunicef.orgVisit source
- Reference 13ILOilo.orgVisit source