In Rwanda, for example, an impressive 96 per cent of people living with HIV are now receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the highest percentage of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- The list is courtesy of Statista.
- In Rwanda, for example, an impressive 96 per cent of people living with HIV are now receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
According to Statista, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic, with millions of people living with HIV and thousands more being newly infected each year.
South Africa, in particular, stands out as the country with the highest number of people living with HIV in Africa. In 2023, 7.7 million South Africans were living with the virus.
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The disease remains the fourth leading cause of death in Africa, contributing to about 5.6 per cent of all fatalities. In 2023, South Africa and Nigeria recorded the highest numbers of AIDS-related deaths globally, with 50,000 and 45,000 deaths, respectively.
While not all the top 25 countries for AIDS-related deaths are in Africa, the continent is home to the majority of these nations.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been a cornerstone in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, providing a lifeline to millions of people living with the virus. Since its introduction, ART has drastically transformed HIV from a fatal condition to a manageable chronic disease.
Access to HIV treatment has improved significantly across Africa in recent years. In Rwanda, for example, an impressive 96 per cent of people living with HIV are now receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
DON’T MISS THIS: Top 10 African countries with the highest number of people living with HIV
Below are the top 10 African countries with the highest percentage of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART):
| Rank | Country | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rwanda | 96% |
| 2 | Botswana | 95% |
| 3 | Zambia | 95% |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 95% |
| 5 | Kenya | 94% |
| 6 | Eswatini | 93% |
| 7 | Malawi | 91% |
| 8 | Lesotho | 89% |
| 9 | Namibia | 89% |
| 10 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 86% |
However, the journey to widespread ART access in Africa has been fraught with challenges, including stigma, resource limitations, and varying levels of healthcare infrastructure.
In South Africa, around 77 per cent of HIV-positive individuals are on ART, whereas in the Congo, this figure drops to just 31 per cent.
