South Africa still carries the world’s highest HIV prevalence, with 19.5% of adults living with HIV in 2022, while AIDS-related deaths fell 58% since 2010. The same country reports 5% fewer new HIV infections in 2022 than in 2021, yet adolescent girls and young women remain hit hardest with 72,000 new infections. In this post, we connect those contrasts to the province-by-province numbers, key populations, and the treatment and prevention coverage reshaping outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- New HIV infections in South Africa totaled 150,000 in 2022, down 44% since 2010.
- Annual HIV incidence rate among adults 15-49 was 0.73% in South Africa in 2022.
- 72,000 new HIV infections occurred among adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 in 2022.
- In 2022, South Africa accounted for 20% of all people living with HIV globally, with approximately 7.8 million PLHIV out of 39 million worldwide.
- The adult HIV prevalence rate (15-49 years) in South Africa was 19.5% in 2022, the highest in the world.
- HIV prevalence among women aged 15-49 in South Africa reached 25.8% in 2022, compared to 14.2% for men.
- AIDS-related deaths in South Africa numbered 74,000 in 2022, down 58% since 2010.
- Mortality rate among PLHIV was 1.1% in South Africa 2022.
- 11,000 children died from AIDS-related causes in South Africa in 2022.
- HIV testing coverage reached 92% among adults 15-49 in South Africa 2022.
- 15 million HIV tests were conducted in public facilities in South Africa in 2022.
- Condom use at last high-risk sex was 65% among youth 15-24 in 2022.
- 5.6 million people living with HIV in South Africa were on ART in 2022, covering 77% of PLHIV.
- ART coverage among adults 15+ reached 78% in South Africa by end of 2022.
- 90% of diagnosed PLHIV in South Africa were virally suppressed in 2022.
South Africa saw 150,000 new HIV infections in 2022, down sharply since 2010, as treatment coverage rises.
Related reading
01 · Category
AIDS Incidence and New Infections19 stats
01
New HIV infections in South Africa totaled 150,000 in 2022, down 44% since 2010.
02
Annual HIV incidence rate among adults 15-49 was 0.73% in South Africa in 2022.
03
72,000 new HIV infections occurred among adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 in 2022.
04
KwaZulu-Natal saw 28,500 new HIV infections in 2022, the highest provincially.
05
Gauteng recorded 32,000 new HIV cases in adults in 2022.
06
Incidence among young women 15-24 was 4.6% annually in high-prevalence areas in 2022.
07
New infections among MSM were estimated at 12,000 in 2022.
08
Female sex workers accounted for 15,000 new infections in 2022.
09
HIV incidence in pregnant women dropped to 2.1% in 2022 from 3.5% in 2015.
10
Eastern Cape had 14,200 new adult HIV infections in 2022.
11
New infections declined by 68% among children 0-14 since 2010, to 1,800 in 2022.
12
Limpopo province reported 8,900 new HIV infections in 2022.
13
Western Cape saw 11,500 new cases among adults in 2022.
14
Incidence rate in urban informal settlements was 1.2% in 2022 surveys.
15
Northern Cape new infections totaled 3,400 in adults 2022.
16
Mpumalanga had 15,600 new HIV cases in 2022.
17
North West province incidence contributed 12,100 new infections in 2022.
18
Free State recorded 9,800 new adult infections in 2022.
19
Overall new infections fell 5% from 2021 to 2022 in South Africa.
Interpretation
AIDS Incidence and New Infections Interpretation
While headline progress offers a weary cheer, the stubbornly high infections among young women and key populations reveal a battle where alarming local surges stubbornly undermine the national retreat.
02 · Category
HIV Prevalence Rates20 stats
01
In 2022, South Africa accounted for 20% of all people living with HIV globally, with approximately 7.8 million PLHIV out of 39 million worldwide.
02
The adult HIV prevalence rate (15-49 years) in South Africa was 19.5% in 2022, the highest in the world.
03
HIV prevalence among women aged 15-49 in South Africa reached 25.8% in 2022, compared to 14.2% for men.
04
In KwaZulu-Natal province, HIV prevalence among adults was 26.5% in the 2022 survey.
05
Gauteng province had an HIV prevalence of 21.4% among adults aged 15-49 in 2022.
06
Eastern Cape's adult HIV prevalence stood at 18.9% according to the 2022 national survey.
07
Limpopo province reported 17.2% HIV prevalence among adults in 2022.
08
In 2022, 12.7% of South Africa's total population was living with HIV.
09
Youth aged 15-24 HIV prevalence in South Africa was 5.2% for females and 2.1% for males in 2022.
10
Pregnant women HIV prevalence at antenatal clinics averaged 27.8% nationally in 2022.
11
HIV prevalence in urban areas of South Africa was 20.1% versus 18.3% in rural areas in 2022.
12
Among sex workers in South Africa, HIV prevalence was estimated at 57.7% in 2022.
13
MSM HIV prevalence in South Africa averaged 28% in key population surveys of 2022.
14
People who inject drugs had 12.5% HIV prevalence in South African cities in 2022.
15
Western Cape province HIV prevalence was 16.8% among adults in 2022.
16
Northern Cape reported 15.4% adult HIV prevalence in the 2022 survey.
17
Mpumalanga's HIV prevalence reached 24.1% for adults aged 15-49 in 2022.
18
North West province had 19.7% HIV prevalence in 2022 national data.
19
Free State province adult HIV prevalence was 22.3% in 2022.
20
Overall, 4.1 million children under 18 in South Africa were affected by HIV in 2022.
Interpretation
HIV Prevalence Rates Interpretation
South Africa's battle with HIV is a national crisis of staggering proportions, where one in five adults carries the virus, a burden shouldered most heavily by women and concentrated in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, yet its reach is chillingly universal, touching every community from sex workers to children.
More related reading
04 · Category
Testing, Prevention, and Behavioral Stats21 stats
01
HIV testing coverage reached 92% among adults 15-49 in South Africa 2022.
02
15 million HIV tests were conducted in public facilities in South Africa in 2022.
03
Condom use at last high-risk sex was 65% among youth 15-24 in 2022.
04
PrEP initiations totaled 250,000 users in South Africa by end of 2022.
05
Voluntary medical male circumcision covered 32% of men 15-49 in 2022.
06
Knowledge of HIV status was 89% among adults in 2022 surveys.
07
85% of adolescent girls knew their HIV status in 2022.
08
Multiple sexual partners in past year: 12% for women, 25% for men 2022.
09
Mother-to-child transmission rate dropped to 1.3% in 2022.
10
Eastern Cape testing positivity rate was 4.2% in 2022.
11
Community-based testing reached 2.5 million people in 2022.
12
DREAMS program covered 1.1 million AGYW for prevention in 2022.
13
Contraceptive use among HIV+ women was 62% in 2022.
14
Limpopo self-testing kits distributed: 500,000 in 2022.
15
Age-disparate relationships declined to 14% among teen girls 2022.
16
Northern Cape prevention coverage for key populations: 55% in 2022.
17
Mpumalanga condom distribution: 450 million in 2022.
18
North West HIV testing in schools reached 80% of learners 2022.
19
Free State PrEP coverage among sex workers: 42% in 2022.
20
Transactional sex reported by 10% of women 15-49 in 2022 survey.
21
VMMC procedures: 1.2 million cumulative since 2010 by 2022.
Interpretation
Testing, Prevention, and Behavioral Stats Interpretation
The statistics reveal a mountain of public health effort is steadily being moved, yet a stubborn molehill of complacency in personal risk behavior still lingers.
05 · Category
Treatment Access and ART19 stats
01
5.6 million people living with HIV in South Africa were on ART in 2022, covering 77% of PLHIV.
02
ART coverage among adults 15+ reached 78% in South Africa by end of 2022.
03
90% of diagnosed PLHIV in South Africa were virally suppressed in 2022.
04
KwaZulu-Natal had 85% ART coverage among adults in 2022.
05
Gauteng province achieved 82% of PLHIV on ART in 2022 surveys.
06
Viral load suppression rate was 92% among those on ART for over 6 months in 2022.
07
Children 0-14 on ART numbered 240,000, or 65% coverage in 2022.
08
Pregnant women living with HIV had 97% ART coverage in antenatal care 2022.
09
Eastern Cape ART coverage was 75% among adults in 2022.
10
Dolutegravir-based regimens were used by 95% of new ART initiators in 2022.
11
Limpopo province had 72% ART coverage for PLHIV in 2022.
12
Western Cape reported 80% viral suppression among ART patients in 2022.
13
Northern Cape ART initiation reached 70% of eligible adults in 2022.
14
Mpumalanga had 79% ART coverage in 2022 provincial data.
15
North West province ART coverage stood at 76% for adults 2022.
16
Free State achieved 81% of PLHIV on treatment in 2022.
17
Differentiated service delivery models covered 45% of stable patients in 2022.
18
TB/HIV co-infection treatment integration reached 88% in 2022 facilities.
19
Retention on ART at 12 months was 87% nationally in South Africa 2022.
Interpretation
Treatment Access and ART Interpretation
South Africa’s HIV response is like a complex machine that, despite a few stubbornly squeaky provincial gears, has managed to get the vast majority of its cogs turning and humming along beautifully.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). South Africa Aids Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-africa-aids-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "South Africa Aids Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/south-africa-aids-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "South Africa Aids Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-africa-aids-statistics.
Sources & references
18 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level