Demographics of HIV

Global Demographics of HIV Infection

The following data were reported by UNAIDS in the Report on the global AIDS epidemic: Executive Summary

An estimated 38.6 million [33.4 million-46.0 million] people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2005.

An estimated 4.1 million [3.4 million-6.2 million] became newly infected with HIV and an estimated 2.8 million [2.4 million-3.3 million] lost their lives to AIDS.

Overall, the HIV incidence rate (the proportion of people who have become infected with HIV) is believed to have peaked in the late 1990s and to have stabilized subsequently, notwithstanding increasing incidence in several countries.

Below is a map showing HIV prevalence rates around the world.

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Among the notable new trends are the recent declines in national HIV prevalence in two sub-Saharan African countries (Kenya and Zimbabwe), urban areas of Burkina Faso, and similarly in Haiti, in the Caribbean, alongside indications of significant behavioural change-including increased condom use, fewer partners and delayed sexual debut. In the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of epidemics appear to be levelling off-but at exceptionally high levels in most of southern Africa.

HIV prevalence has also been declining in four states in India, including Tamil Nadu, where prevention efforts were scaled up in the late 1990s. In Cambodia and Thailand, steady ongoing declines in HIV prevalence are continuing. However, HIV prevalence is increasing in some countries, notably China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam and there are signs of HIV outbreaks in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Africa remains the global epicentre of the AIDS pandemic. South Africa's AIDS epidemic-one of the worst in the world-shows no evidence of a decline ... An estimated 5.5 million [4.9 million-6.1 million] people were living with HIV in 2005. An estimated 18.8% [16.8%-20.7%] of adults (15-49 years) were living with HIV in 2005.1 Almost one in three pregnant women attending public antenatal clinics were living with HIV in 2004 and trends over time show a gradual increase in HIV prevalence.

Latest estimates show some 8.3 million [5.7 million-12.5 million] people (2.4 million among adult women [1.5 million-3.8 million]) were living with HIV in Asia at the end of 2005-more than two-thirds of them in one country, India. In Asia, about one in six people (16%) in need of antiretroviral treatment are now receiving it. While progress has been strongest in Thailand, coverage still remains well below 10% in India (which has more than 70% of the region's total treatment need).

The epidemics in eastern Europe and central Asia continue to expand. Some 220 000 [150 000-650 000] people were newly infected with HIV in 2005, bringing to about 1.5 million [1.0 million-2.3 million] the number of people living with HIV-a twenty-fold increase in less than a decade. The epidemic's death toll is rising sharply, too. AIDS killed an estimated 53 000 [36 000-75 000] adults and children in 2005-almost twice as many as in 2003. Increasingly large numbers of women are being infected with HIV. The majority of people living with HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia are in two countries: the Ukraine, where the annual number of new HIV diagnoses keeps rising, and the Russian Federation, which has the biggest AIDS epidemic in all of Europe.

The Caribbean's epidemics-and countries' AIDS responses-vary considerably in extent and intensity. HIV infection levels have decreased in urban parts of Haiti and in the Bahamas and have remained stable in neighbouring Dominican Republic and Barbados. As well, expanded access to antiretroviral treatment in the Bahamas and Barbados appears to be reducing AIDS deaths. However, such progress has not been enough to undo the Caribbean's status as the second-most affected region in the world.

Demographics of HIV Infection in the United States

The following information was reported in Cases of HIV infection and AIDS in United States in 2004 by the Department of Health and Human Services - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

This report presents estimated numbers of cases of HIV/AIDS from the 35 areas (33 states, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) with integrated HIV and AIDS surveillance since at least 2000 ... New York is the state with the highest reported percentage (18%) of cumulative national AIDS cases, and inclusion of their integrated data resulted in large numeric increases in the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases compared to previous HIV/AIDS surveillance reports.

From 2001 through 2004, the total number of new cases of HIV/AIDS in the 35 areas decreased slightly; however, HIV/AIDS prevalence (i.e., the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS) increased during this time: at the end of 2004, an estimated 462,792 persons in the 35 areas were diagnosed and living with HIV/AIDS. According to the number of reported AIDS cases, these 35 areas represent approximately 61% of the epidemic in the United States.

Cases of HIV/AIDS
The estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases in the 35 areas with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting decreased year to year from 2001 through 2003 and then increased approximately 1% from the end of 2003 (38,139) through the end of 2004 (38,685).

The largest number of HIV/AIDS cases occurred among persons age 35–39 years and accounted for 17% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004.

From 2001 through 2004, the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases increased among whites, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives, and decreased among blacks and Hispanics. Blacks accounted for 50% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004.

From 2001 through 2004, the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases decreased approximately 2% among males and 15% among females. In 2004, males accounted for 73% of all HIV/AIDS cases among adults and adolescents.

From 2001 through 2004, the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases increased among men who have sex with men (MSM). The estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases decreased among injection drug users (IDUs), MSM who were also IDUs, heterosexual adults and adolescents, and among children. MSM (47%) and persons exposed through heterosexual contact (33%) accounted for 80% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004.

Cases of AIDS
During 2000-2001, decreases in annual AIDS cases began to level; however, after 2001, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased each year. In 2004, the estimated rate of AIDS cases in the United States was 14.1 per 100,000 population.

The largest number of AIDS cases occurred among persons age 40-44 years and accounted for 21% of all AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004.

From 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased among all racial and ethnic groups

From 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased 10% among females and 7% among males. Males accounted for 73% of all AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004 among adults and adolescents in the United States.

From 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of AIDS cases decreased among IDUs and among MSM who were also IDUs. From 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased among MSM. Among persons exposed through heterosexual contact, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased each year from 2000 through 2004.

From 2000 through 2004, the estimated number of AIDS cases increased 25% in the South and 13% in the Midwest, and decreased 8% in the Northeast, 6% in the West, and 15% in the U.S. dependencies, possessions, and associated nations.

Demographics of HIV Infection in New York City

The following information was reported in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology Second Semiannual Report for 2005.

189,165 cases of HIV and AIDS have been diagnosed and reported in New York City since the beginning of the epidemic. 93,748 (50%) have died.

The number of concurrent diagnoses of HIV/AIDS also declined slightly (2%), from 1,044 in 2004 to 1,019 in 2005. Concurrent HIV/AIDS accounted for 27% of all new diagnoses of HIV in both years.

Deaths have decreased in both sexes, all races, and all transmission categories. In 2001, persons aged 50+ accounted for 34%; in 2005, that percentage had risen to 47%.

New Diagnoses of HIV (non-AIDS):

The total number of new diagnoses declined from 2,834 in 2004 to 2,781 in 2005. This slight (2%) decline is likely to disappear as late reports are received.

Between 2004 and 2005, the number of new diagnoses of HIV (non-AIDS) among males increased from 1,945 to 2,003. Increases were observed in black and white males and in men aged 20-29 and 40+

The number of new diagnoses attributed to men who have sex with men (MSM) was 1,111 in 2004 and 1,113 in 2005. Diagnoses decreased in black MSM and increased in white and Hispanic MSM. Diagnoses attributed to injecting drug use continued their steady decline from 298 in 2004 to 191 in 2005, a decrease of 36%.

These demographics tell us that HIV has affected all communities in our city, our nation, and around the world.