AIDS Orphans

Global Overview

World Statistics:

AIDS: 33.2 million
AIDS Orphans: over 15 million

An AIDS orphan is a child under 18 who has lost at least one parent to AIDS. AIDS orphans crisis is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean although it also a growing concern in other parts of the world.

Trends in AIDS Orphans

A child can be orphaned by AIDS at any age but the trend is there are more adolescent AIDS orphans than any younger age groups. According to the 2004 UNICEF Children on the Brink Report, adolescents comprised about 55% of all AIDS orphans.

HIV/AIDS also has a higher propensity to create double orphans, children who have lost both their mother and father. Surveys show that double orphans are more likely to be disadvantaged than single orphans. For example, they are less likely to attend school. In Tanzania, 71% of single orphans attended school compared to 52% of double orphans. Since 2004, there has also been an increase in maternal orphans, children who have lost their mothers to AIDS. This is because HIV/AIDS is more likely to infect women due to biological reasons. In sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS affects 68% of women.

According to the 2004 UNICEF Children on the Brink Report, the number of AIDS orphans has either stabilized or decreased in Asia and Latin America, and the Caribbean. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, the number of AIDS orphans continues to grow. It is predicted that the number of AIDS orphans will exceed 25 million by 2010.