Africa is disproportionately affected by HIV, but access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) means the number of people dying of HIV-related causes has dropped significantly and people on ARTs are able to live long and healthy lives.

Two-thirds of the 39.9-million people in the world who were living with HIV in 2023 (the latest data available from the World Health Organisation) are in Africa. That’s around 26-million people. Seventy percent live in eight countries: South Africa, with 7.7-million has by far the most, the other seven are Mozambique (2.4-million), Nigeria (2-million), Tanzania (1.7-million), Uganda (1.5-million), Kenya (1.4-million), Zimbabwe (1.3-million) and Zambia (1.3-million).

The global target for people living with HIV on ART by 2025 is 95%. Rwanda, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia achieved the 95% target by 2023. Kenya was close at 94%.

South Africa, with around 5.9-million people on ART, the most in the world, was at 77%. The other four countries in the top eight have passed the 80% mark: Mozambique (86%), Nigeria (85%), Tanzania (82%), and Uganda (83%).

The global ART coverage rate is 77%.