At least 85% (almost 900 000) of South Africans who needed antiretroviral drugs were not yet receiving them by mid-2005. (UNAIDS 2006)

This week’s theme: Every day is AIDS Day

South Africa has an estimated 1.2 million Aids orphans (Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet, August 2006)

This week’s theme: Every day is AIDS Day

In 2005, an estimated 320,000 South Africans died of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death in almost all South African provinces and is also the leading cause of death among South African children under age five. (Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet, August 2006)

This week’s theme: Every day is AIDS Day

An estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV worldwide. There were 4.3 million new infections in 2006 with 2.8 million (65%) of these occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS/WHO 2006 AIDS Epidemic Update, HIVAN 2006)

This week’s theme: Every day is AIDS Day

South Africa’s life expectancy at birth in the period 1970-1975 was 53.7 years. In the period 2000-2005 it was 49 years. All of South Africa’s neighbours also experienced a decline, save for Mozambique, which improved from 40.7 to 41.9 years. (Source: <a href=’http://hdr.undp.org/’>Human Development Report 2006)</a>

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006

South Africa has a Gini coefficient of 57.8, which measures the income inequality of its citizens. A value of 0 represents perfect equality, and a value of 100 perfect inequality. Countries with a similar Gini coefficient are Chile (57.1), Paraguay (57.8), and Brazil (58). (Source: <a href=’http://hdr.undp.org/’>Human Development Report 2006</a>)

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006

South Africa had a GDP per capita (PPP US$) of $11,192 in 2004. Chile and Malaysia achieved similar figures ($10,874 and $10,276). On the Human Development Index, Chile is ranked 38th and Malaysia is ranked 61st of 171 countries. South Africa’s rank is 121. (Source: Human Development Report 2006)

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006

South Africa has a Human Development Index of 0.653 (based on 2004 statistics). Using a consistent methodology, South Africa’s Human Development Index using 1995 statistics is 0.741. Had South Africa remained at this level, it would have been ranked 98th out of 171 countries, instead of its current ranking of 121. (Source: Human Development Report 2006)

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006

South Africa has a Human Development Index of 0.653 (based on 2004 statistics) and is ranked 121st out of 177 countries, in between Equatorial Guinea and Tajikistan. (Source: Human Development Report 2006)

This week’s theme: The Human Development Report 2006

Bloemfontein is the most active of the large metros with half of its adult citizens participating in some kind of sport. Soweto is the least active with a third of its adult citizens participating. (AMPS2006A)

This week’s theme: Sport in South Africa