11 Facts about HIV in Africa
- The first case of HIV/AIDS in Africa was reported in 1982.
- Of the 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS across the world, 27.7 million are in Africa.
- More than 5 million people are said to be living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, the highest number of any country in the world.
- In 2007, 2 million people died due to HIV/AIDS. 1,850,000 lived in Africa.
- Women account for 59% of adults aged 15 and over said to be living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.
- South Africa has been hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic. One in five adults is HIV positive.
- South Africa also has one of the highest numbers of children under 15 living with HIV/AIDS in the world; estimates range from 180,000 to 280,000.
- 2.5 million people in Africa receive Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), medications for the treatment of infection by retroviruses, primarily HIV.
- An additional 8.7 million are in need of ART.
- There are 15 million AIDS orphans living around the world, 13 million of whom are in Africa.
- HIV is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2006, AIDS-related deaths accounted for nearly half of all deaths in South Africa.
This table provides a compelling view of how HIV/AIDS is ravaging Africa
HIV/AIDS statistics for Africa at the end of 2007, compared to the rest of the world.
| Region | Total No. (%) Living with HIV/AIDS | Newly Infected in 2007 | Adult (15-49) Prevalence Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Total | 33 million (100%) | 2.7 million | 0.8% | Sub-Saharan Africa | 22.0 million | 1.9 million | 5.0% |
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation
Averting HIV & AIDS
AIDS and Africa
The World Bank
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