📉 HIV infections and AIDS deaths at lowest level in over 30 years

• New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are now at their lowest level in more than 30 years, according to a new report from UNAIDS.
• Seven countries have reduced new infections by almost 80 percent since 2010.
• New prevention medicines offer protection close to that of a vaccine.

Lowest levels in three decades

UNAIDS has released a special report ahead of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro. The report shows that both new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are now at their lowest levels in more than 30 years.

In 2025, 1.2 million people acquired HIV. 570,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses. In total, 41 million people are living with HIV, and 32 million of them are on treatment.

Seven countries have nearly eliminated new infections

Seven countries have reduced the number of new HIV infections by almost 80 percent since 2010. Eleven countries have reached the targets known as 95-95-95. This means that 95 percent of all people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have viral levels so low that they cannot transmit the virus to others.

UNAIDS writes that these countries show that progress is possible.

New medicines offer protection close to vaccine level

The report points out that new prevention medicines offer protection against HIV close to what a vaccine would provide. Injections taken once a month or once every six months are entering the market. Pills taken once a month are in late-stage clinical trials.

Brazil has increased the number of people who have accessed HIV prevention medicines at least once in the past year by 41 percent. Ethiopia and Uganda have expanded access through domestic and other funding. South Africa is negotiating the price of lenacapavir, a prevention injection taken twice a year.

Millions to receive lenacapavir

UNITAID, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and other partners have pooled money to start rolling out lenacapavir. The goal is to reach 3 million people by 2028.

New global targets for 2030

In June 2026, 149 UN Member States adopted a new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. It is aligned with the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy for 2026 to 2031.

The new targets for 2030 are for 40 million people to be on treatment and 20 million to have access to prevention medicines. Fewer than 10 percent of people living with or at risk of HIV should experience stigma and discrimination. Fewer than 10 percent of countries should have laws that limit access to HIV services.

If the targets are met, UNAIDS estimates that an additional 3.2 million new HIV infections and 1.3 million AIDS-related deaths can be averted by 2030. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, says that ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is still within reach.

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