Sub-Saharan Africa holds 25.7 million people living with HIV. This total represents 67 percent of cases worldwide. The same period recorded 650,000 AIDS-related deaths and 1.3 million new infections.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were an estimated 25.7 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
- In 2022, there were an estimated 1.3 million new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
- In 2022, there were an estimated 650,000 AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.
- By end of 2023, 38.4 million people were receiving ART globally.
- In 2022, 77% of people living with HIV who knew their status in sub-Saharan Africa were on ART.
- In 2022, 80% of people living with HIV on ART in sub-Saharan Africa were virally suppressed.
- In 2022, an estimated 370,000 children were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
- In 2022, an estimated 1.3 million new HIV infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (all ages).
- In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa among adults was 1.0 million.
- In 2022, an estimated 25.7 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV.
- In 2022, an estimated 650,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
- In 2022, AIDS-related deaths in East and Southern Africa were estimated at 440,000.
- In Botswana, the number of people living with HIV was about 350,000 in 2022.
- In Botswana, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 22.7% in 2022.
- In Botswana, new HIV infections were about 6,900 in 2022.
In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa held 67% of the world’s people with HIV and saw 650,000 AIDS deaths.
Related reading
01 · Category
HIV burden and population30 stats
01
In 2022, there were an estimated 25.7 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
02
In 2022, there were an estimated 1.3 million new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
03
In 2022, there were an estimated 650,000 AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.
04
In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 67% of all people living with HIV worldwide.
05
In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 57% of new HIV infections worldwide.
06
In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 58% of AIDS-related deaths worldwide.
07
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Africa (UNAIDS region) was 33.6 million.
08
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in East and Southern Africa was 26.1 million.
09
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in East and Southern Africa was 1.1 million.
10
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in East and Southern Africa was 440,000.
11
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Western and Central Africa was 7.0 million.
12
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in Western and Central Africa was 230,000.
13
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in Western and Central Africa was 220,000.
14
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Southern Africa was 7.9 million.
15
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in Southern Africa was 240,000.
16
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in Southern Africa was 160,000.
17
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in East Africa was 6.9 million.
18
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in East Africa was 390,000.
19
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in East Africa was 200,000.
20
In 2022, the estimated number of people living with HIV in West and Central Africa was 7.0 million.
21
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in West and Central Africa was 230,000.
22
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in West and Central Africa was 220,000.
23
In 2022, the adult (15+) HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa was estimated at 4.8%.
24
In 2022, the adult (15+) HIV prevalence in Eastern and Southern Africa was estimated at 10.3%.
25
In 2022, the adult (15+) HIV prevalence in Western and Central Africa was estimated at 2.1%.
26
In 2022, there were 1.3 million new HIV infections among adults (15+) in sub-Saharan Africa.
27
In 2022, there were 250,000 new HIV infections among children (0–14) in sub-Saharan Africa.
28
In 2022, there were 1.0 million new HIV infections among adults (15+) in East and Southern Africa.
29
In 2022, there were 130,000 new HIV infections among children (0–14) in East and Southern Africa.
30
In 2022, there were 28,000 new HIV infections among children (0–14) in Western and Central Africa.
Interpretation
HIV burden and population Interpretation
In 2022, sub Saharan Africa carried the weight of the HIV pandemic with 25.7 million people living with HIV and 1.3 million new infections, yet progress is uneven because while most people know their status and many are on ART in parts of the region, deaths still reach 650,000 and viral suppression falls short, proving that “better” is not the same as “done.”
02 · Category
Prevention and treatment coverage30 stats
01
By end of 2023, 38.4 million people were receiving ART globally.
02
In 2022, 77% of people living with HIV who knew their status in sub-Saharan Africa were on ART.
03
In 2022, 80% of people living with HIV on ART in sub-Saharan Africa were virally suppressed.
04
In 2022, 74% of people living with HIV on ART in East and Southern Africa were virally suppressed.
05
In 2022, 79% of people living with HIV on ART in Western and Central Africa were virally suppressed.
06
In 2022, 84% of pregnant people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa received antiretroviral medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
07
In 2022, 55% of children with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa received antiretroviral medicines.
08
In 2022, 82% of adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa received antiretroviral medicines.
09
In 2022, 85% of adults living with HIV in East and Southern Africa received antiretroviral medicines.
10
In 2022, 70% of adults living with HIV in Western and Central Africa received antiretroviral medicines.
11
In 2022, 34% of pregnant people living with HIV received antiretroviral medicines in Western and Central Africa.
12
In 2022, the estimated proportion of adults (15+) with HIV who were virally suppressed in sub-Saharan Africa was 58%.
13
In 2022, the estimated proportion of adults (15+) with HIV who were virally suppressed in East and Southern Africa was 61%.
14
In 2022, the estimated proportion of adults (15+) with HIV who were virally suppressed in Western and Central Africa was 46%.
15
In 2022, 79% of people receiving ART in sub-Saharan Africa were virally suppressed.
16
In 2022, 77% of people receiving ART in East and Southern Africa were virally suppressed.
17
In 2022, 83% of people receiving ART in Western and Central Africa were virally suppressed.
18
In 2022, condoms were used at last high-risk sex by 20% of HIV-negative men in sub-Saharan Africa.
19
In 2022, condoms were used at last high-risk sex by 31% of HIV-negative women in sub-Saharan Africa.
20
In 2022, 32.7 million people in sub-Saharan Africa received HIV testing services.
21
In 2022, 19.9 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were tested for HIV at least once.
22
In 2022, 23.4 million people in East and Southern Africa received HIV testing services.
23
In 2022, 6.3 million people in Western and Central Africa received HIV testing services.
24
In 2022, an estimated 1.4 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were newly enrolled in ART.
25
In 2022, 1.0 million people in East and Southern Africa were newly enrolled in ART.
26
In 2022, 340,000 people in Western and Central Africa were newly enrolled in ART.
27
In 2022, 9.2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were retained on ART.
28
In 2022, 5.7 million people in East and Southern Africa were retained on ART.
29
In 2022, 3.5 million people in Western and Central Africa were retained on ART.
30
In 2022, 10.3 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were virally suppressed.
Interpretation
Prevention and treatment coverage Interpretation
By 2023, tens of millions were on ART, but the continent’s HIV progress is a hard-won chain where roughly three quarters of people on treatment achieve viral suppression, many adults and pregnant people still miss key prevention and care steps, and even while millions get tested and enrolled, retention and viral control show that access is improving faster than perfection.
03 · Category
Transmission dynamics and risk30 stats
01
In 2022, an estimated 370,000 children were newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.
02
In 2022, an estimated 1.3 million new HIV infections occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (all ages).
03
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa among adults was 1.0 million.
04
In 2022, the estimated number of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa among children was 250,000.
05
In 2022, 35% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa were among young people aged 15–24.
06
In sub-Saharan Africa, young women (15–24) account for 25% of all new HIV infections but only 18% of the population.
07
In sub-Saharan Africa, young men (15–24) account for 10% of all new HIV infections.
08
In 2022, mother-to-child transmission accounted for an estimated 9% of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa.
09
In 2022, the majority of new HIV infections (about 91%) in sub-Saharan Africa were through sexual transmission among adults and young people.
10
In 2022, in sub-Saharan Africa, 3.4% of adults and children living with HIV were not virally suppressed.
11
In sub-Saharan Africa, condom use at last high-risk sex was estimated at 20% in 2022 for HIV-negative men.
12
In sub-Saharan Africa, condom use at last high-risk sex was estimated at 31% in 2022 for HIV-negative women.
13
In sub-Saharan Africa, 34% of men and women reported having had sexual intercourse with a non-marital/non-cohabiting partner in the past 12 months (data used in UNAIDS risk estimates).
14
In sub-Saharan Africa, 9% of adults reported multiple sexual partners (data used in UNAIDS risk estimates).
15
In sub-Saharan Africa, 23% of female sex workers were estimated to have HIV in 2022.
16
In sub-Saharan Africa, 15% of men who have sex with men were estimated to have HIV in 2022.
17
In sub-Saharan Africa, 8% of people who inject drugs were estimated to have HIV in 2022.
18
In sub-Saharan Africa, 43% of prisoners were estimated to have HIV in 2022.
19
In sub-Saharan Africa, 2.6 million people were living with HIV and not yet diagnosed in 2022.
20
In sub-Saharan Africa, about 930,000 people living with HIV were not on ART in 2022.
21
In sub-Saharan Africa, about 1.5 million people living with HIV were not virally suppressed in 2022.
22
In 2022, new HIV infections among young women (15–24) in sub-Saharan Africa were 400,000.
23
In 2022, new HIV infections among young men (15–24) in sub-Saharan Africa were 170,000.
24
In 2022, estimated new HIV infections among adults (15–49) in sub-Saharan Africa were 1.0 million.
25
In 2022, estimated new HIV infections among adolescents (10–19) in sub-Saharan Africa were 240,000.
26
In sub-Saharan Africa, women are estimated to be 2.2 times more likely than men to be living with HIV.
27
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (15–24) is about 2.5 times higher than among adolescent boys and young men.
28
In 2022, the estimated HIV incidence rate (per 1000 uninfected population) in sub-Saharan Africa was 5.2.
29
In 2022, the estimated HIV incidence rate in Eastern and Southern Africa was 13.7 per 1000 uninfected population.
30
In 2022, the estimated HIV incidence rate in Western and Central Africa was 2.0 per 1000 uninfected population.
Interpretation
Transmission dynamics and risk Interpretation
In 2022, sub-Saharan Africa saw about 1.3 million new HIV infections, with young people and particularly young women disproportionately affected, while sexual transmission powered most of these cases, thousands were still being infected through mother-to-child transmission, and—despite progress—millions of people living with HIV remained undiagnosed, not on treatment, and not virally suppressed, turning what should be a solvable health crisis into an urgently preventable one.
More related reading
04 · Category
Mortality, morbidity, and societal impacts30 stats
01
In 2022, an estimated 25.7 million people in sub-Saharan Africa were living with HIV.
02
In 2022, an estimated 650,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
03
In 2022, AIDS-related deaths in East and Southern Africa were estimated at 440,000.
04
In 2022, AIDS-related deaths in Western and Central Africa were estimated at 220,000.
05
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths globally was 630,000 (in the UNAIDS 2023 Global AIDS Update summary figures).
06
In 2022, an estimated 1.3 million people in sub-Saharan Africa died from AIDS-related causes including opportunistic infections and other illnesses associated with HIV/AIDS.
07
In 2018, there were 770,000 AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (WHO fact sheet historical reference).
08
In 2022, AIDS is one of the leading causes of death among adults in sub-Saharan Africa.
09
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths in Africa (UNAIDS region) was 400,000.
10
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths among children (0–14) in sub-Saharan Africa was 20,000.
11
In 2022, the estimated number of AIDS-related deaths among adults (15+) in sub-Saharan Africa was 630,000.
12
In sub-Saharan Africa, 11.4 million children (0–17) were orphaned due to AIDS in 2022.
13
In sub-Saharan Africa, 5.9 million children (0–17) were living with AIDS-related orphanhood in 2022.
14
In 2022, there were 12.6 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who required ART but were not receiving it.
15
In 2022, there were 5.5 million people in sub-Saharan Africa who were not virally suppressed.
16
In 2022, AIDS-related illnesses caused widespread health system strain in countries with high prevalence.
17
In 2022, HIV is a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in Africa.
18
In 2022, HIV affects labor productivity and household income through chronic illness.
19
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV is associated with increased poverty and inequality through health and economic shocks.
20
In 2022, people living with HIV who have access to ART have dramatically reduced mortality compared with those without ART (ART averts AIDS deaths).
21
Since the start of the ART scale-up, tens of millions of lives have been saved globally (UNAIDS reported “over 25 million” lives saved).
22
In 2022, the estimated number of people who died from AIDS-related causes globally since 1980 was 41 million (UNAIDS global figure).
23
In sub-Saharan Africa, HIV-related tuberculosis co-infection remains common; TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV.
24
In 2022, 7.5 million people with HIV were also living with tuberculosis globally (WHO TB/HIV global context).
25
In 2022, around 1.6 million people died from TB among people with HIV globally (WHO TB context).
26
In 2022, in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV contributed to a significant proportion of maternal deaths where HIV is prevalent.
27
In 2022, HIV prevalence among pregnant women is used as an indicator of population transmission; high levels correspond to higher AIDS burden.
28
In 2022, there were 1.4 million HIV-related deaths among women globally (WHO/UNAIDS framing).
29
In 2022, 1.6 million children worldwide were orphaned due to AIDS (global UNAIDS orphan figure context).
30
In 2022, HIV caused an estimated 39 million deaths since the epidemic began (global AIDS deaths figure referenced by WHO/UNAIDS).
Interpretation
Mortality, morbidity, and societal impacts Interpretation
In 2022 sub-Saharan Africa alone held 25.7 million people living with HIV and accounted for the vast majority of the world’s AIDS deaths, while the total still sits at 630,000 globally, proving that despite ART saving more than 25 million lives, too many people are still left without treatment, still not virally suppressed, and too often pushed into TB co-infection, poverty, and even maternal loss.
05 · Category
Country profiles and program indicators30 stats
01
In Botswana, the number of people living with HIV was about 350,000 in 2022.
02
In Botswana, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 22.7% in 2022.
03
In Botswana, new HIV infections were about 6,900 in 2022.
04
In Botswana, AIDS-related deaths were about 5,200 in 2022.
05
In Eswatini, the number of people living with HIV was about 210,000 in 2022.
06
In Eswatini, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 28.0% in 2022.
07
In Eswatini, new HIV infections were about 2,400 in 2022.
08
In Eswatini, AIDS-related deaths were about 1,100 in 2022.
09
In South Africa, the number of people living with HIV was about 7.8 million in 2022.
10
In South Africa, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 19.0% in 2022.
11
In South Africa, new HIV infections were about 240,000 in 2022.
12
In South Africa, AIDS-related deaths were about 69,000 in 2022.
13
In Lesotho, the number of people living with HIV was about 320,000 in 2022.
14
In Lesotho, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 23.0% in 2022.
15
In Lesotho, new HIV infections were about 5,100 in 2022.
16
In Lesotho, AIDS-related deaths were about 2,100 in 2022.
17
In Namibia, the number of people living with HIV was about 250,000 in 2022.
18
In Namibia, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 13.5% in 2022.
19
In Namibia, new HIV infections were about 4,400 in 2022.
20
In Namibia, AIDS-related deaths were about 4,200 in 2022.
21
In Botswana, the estimated percentage of adults (15+) living with HIV who were on ART was about 70% in 2022.
22
In Eswatini, the estimated percentage of adults (15+) living with HIV who were on ART was about 76% in 2022.
23
In South Africa, the estimated percentage of adults (15+) living with HIV who were on ART was about 64% in 2022.
24
In Lesotho, the estimated percentage of adults (15+) living with HIV who were on ART was about 78% in 2022.
25
In Namibia, the estimated percentage of adults (15+) living with HIV who were on ART was about 73% in 2022.
26
In Kenya, the number of people living with HIV was about 1.6 million in 2022.
27
In Kenya, HIV prevalence among adults (15–49) was about 3.9% in 2022.
28
In Kenya, new HIV infections were about 43,000 in 2022.
29
In Kenya, AIDS-related deaths were about 34,000 in 2022.
30
In Uganda, the number of people living with HIV was about 1.7 million in 2022.
Interpretation
Country profiles and program indicators Interpretation
In 2022, southern and eastern Africa carried a stark mix of high HIV burdens and heavy treatment gaps, where Botswana and Eswatini battled adult prevalence of about 22.7% and 28.0% with only 70% and 76% of people on ART, while South Africa’s 7.8 million cases still meant tens of thousands of new infections and 64% on treatment, and meanwhile countries with far lower prevalence like Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria still saw major new infections and AIDS deaths, proving that even when the percentage dips, the human cost does not.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Aids In Africa Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aids-in-africa-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Aids In Africa Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/aids-in-africa-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Aids In Africa Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aids-in-africa-statistics.
Sources & references
14 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)