Scientific Facts on AIDS

2. What are the worldwide trends in the HIV/AIDS epidemic?

* 2.1 How many people are affected worldwide?
* 2.2 How has the epidemic evolved in heavily affected regions?
* 2.3 How has the epidemic evolved in less affected regions?

2.1 How many people are affected worldwide?
A global view of HIV infection
A global view of HIV infection
People living with HIV in the world
People living with HIV in the world

At the end of 2005, about 38.6 (32*) million people were living with HIV worldwide. That year, 4.1 (2.9*) million became newly infected and 2.8 (2.2*) million died because of AIDS. Thus, in absolute terms, the number of people living with AIDS continues to rise because the world population is growing and because antiretroviral drugs help people with HIV live longer.

In relative terms, however, the proportion of people among the world population who become infected with HIV each year (HIV incidence) is stabilizing and the proportion of adults living with HIV (HIV prevalence) is levelling off at about 1%. In several countries, changes in behaviour and prevention programmes have contributed to lowering the share of newly infected people. More...

Note: The 2007 Epidemic Update published by UNAIDS/WHO provides better estimates of the number of people living with AIDS. Better data collecting and estimation methods led to revised figures : the total estimated number of people living with AIDS at the end of 2007 is 33.2 millions, with 2.5 million new infections and 2.1 million deaths (see the 2007 UNAIDS report). This decrease from previous numbers does not represent a trend in the epidemic, which is still progressing, but a refinement in the data. For example, the new estimate puts the number of people that were living with AIDS in 2005 at around 32 million. The new estimates show the same general trend in the epidemic than previous ones: a leveling off of the increase in prevalence since the late 90's, but with a continuing increase in the number of people living