Publications
Partners
- Stats SA released the 2022 mid-year population estimates report on Thursday.
- The country's population is estimated to be 60.6 million.
- About 8.5 million people in the country are HIV positive.
The Covid-19 pandemic has, to some extent, interrupted South Africa's HIV prevention and treatment programmes, with more than eight million people living with the virus.
The pandemic also presented challenges that would likely hamper progress in eradicating HIV.
This is according to Statistics SA in its 2022 mid-year population estimates report.
The statistician-general, Risenga Maluleke, released the report in Pretoria on Thursday.
SA has the most significant number of people enrolled on antiretrovirals in the world.
READ | Botswana hits 'historic' UN goal against HIV - report
The number of those living with the virus had increased from an estimated 3.68 million in 2002, to 8.45 million this year.
According to Stats SA, the country's population is estimated to be 60.6 million (by June 2022), with Gauteng being the most populated province, followed by KwaZulu-Natal.
"Almost a fourth of South Africa women in their reproductive ages (15–49 years) are HIV positive."
And, for adults between 15 and 49, an estimated 19.6% of the population are living with the virus.
"HIV prevalence among the youth aged 15 [to] 24 has remained stable over time."
Stats SA continued:
Stats SA also reported that, since 2020, there has been a slight increase in HIV-related deaths.
This was despite efforts to ensure antiretroviral treatments rollout and treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between 2002 and 2006, the life expectancy at birth declined primarily due to the impact of HIV/Aids.
Life expectancy, however, started picking up in 2007, partly due to the expansion of health programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission and access to antiretroviral treatment.
Last year, however, life expectancy declined again, after almost two decades, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It has now improved by 0.8 years for men (60 years) and 1.4 years for women (65.6 years).
