According to a special report released by UNAIDS ahead of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen to their lowest levels in more than 30 years. The global data shows 1.2 million new acquisitions of HIV and 570,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses, marking a stark contrast to historical peaks and demonstrating significant progress in worldwide treatment and prevention efforts.
Global HIV Infections and AIDS Deaths Fall to Three-Decade Lows
Decades of coordinated international response have driven down the annual toll of the epidemic. According to UNAIDS, the estimated number of new HIV infections fell by 42% globally since 2010, with an even steeper decline of 59% in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, vertical transmission of HIV has dropped by 69% over the same period, bringing new pediatric infections down to 93,000 in 2025.
Out of the total 41 million people currently living with HIV worldwide, 32 million are receiving antiretroviral treatment, according to the UNAIDS report. Annual AIDS-related deaths have also dropped sharply, falling 57% from 1.3 million in 2010 to 570,000 in 2025. Prevention programs aimed at stopping mother-to-child transmission alone have successfully averted nearly 4.8 million HIV acquisitions in children between 2000 and 2025.
Seven Countries Nearly Eliminate New Infections and Reach 95-95-95 Targets
Progress is unevenly distributed, yet several nations have achieved milestone achievements in controlling the virus. According to UNAIDS, seven countries have successfully reduced new HIV infections by almost 80 percent since 2010. Additionally, 11 countries have reached the established 95-95-95 targets.
Did you know? Under the 95-95-95 framework, 95 percent of everyone diagnosed with HIV must be aware of their condition, 95 percent of those diagnosed need to receive treatment, and 95 percent of those undergoing treatment must achieve viral suppression so complete that transmission becomes impossible.
Despite these successes, vulnerabilities remain in the broader global response. New infections actually rose in 21 countries, and international HIV financing fell by 18% – from $8.8 billion to $7.3 billion – which threatens to stall momentum or spark a resurgence if funding gaps are not addressed.
Next-Generation Prevention Medicines Offer Near Vaccine-Level Protection
Medical advancements are reshaping how health systems approach stopping transmission. According to UNAIDS, new prevention medicines offer protection against HIV close to what a vaccine would provide. Long-acting options, including injections taken once a month or once every six months, are actively entering global markets, while once-monthly pills remain in late-stage clinical trials.
Adoption of these preventative tools is already scaling up in heavily impacted regions. Brazil has increased the number of people accessing HIV prevention medicines at least once in the past year by 41 percent. Ethiopia and Uganda have expanded access through domestic and other funding sources. Meanwhile, South Africa is actively negotiating the pricing of lenacapavir, a biannual prevention injection.
To accelerate deployment, international health organizations including UNITAID and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria have pooled financial resources. These partners aim to roll out lenacapavir with the specific goal of reaching 3 million people by 2028.
New 2030 Targets Set to Eradicate AIDS as a Public Health Threat
Building on recent declines, 149 UN Member States adopted a new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS in June 2026, aligning with the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy for 2026 to 2031. The updated targets for 2030 outline ambitious benchmarks: expanding treatment to 40 million people and providing 20 million individuals with access to prevention medicines.
The strategy also targets social and legal barriers. According to the framework, fewer than 10 percent of people living with or at risk of HIV should experience stigma and discrimination, and fewer than 10 percent of countries should have laws that limit access to HIV services. UNAIDS estimates that meeting these 2030 targets will avert an additional 3.2 million new HIV infections and 1.3 million AIDS-related deaths.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, states that ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is still within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current global numbers for HIV and AIDS?
According to UNAIDS, 1.2 million people acquired HIV and 570,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2025. Out of 41 million people living with HIV, 32 million are currently on treatment.
What is lenacapavir and how does it help prevent HIV?
Lenacapavir is a prevention injection taken twice a year that offers protection against HIV close to vaccine-like levels. International health groups are currently pooling funds to roll it out to 3 million people by 2028.
What are the 95-95-95 targets?
Specifically, these goals require that 95 percent of all individuals infected with HIV are aware of their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed are receiving therapy, and 95 percent of those on treatment maintain viral loads so minimal that they cannot pass the virus onward.
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