Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, targets cells that assist the human body’s ability to fight off infection, thus weakening the resistance of the immune system. HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, if not properly treated. This means that a person is vulnerable to numerous fatal diseases and disorders.
Currently, there is no HIV treatment that completely cures the condition which means that if someone has HIV, it will remain in the body for that person’s entire life. However, the majority of HIV-positive people can live long, healthy lives thanks to extremely effective pharmaceutical treatments.
Global HIV statistics
Source: WHO
From 2000 to 2021, there was a significant 49% decrease in new HIV infections, along with a 61% drop in HIV-related fatalities. Due to antiretroviral therapy (ART), medical experts were able to save 18.6 million lives.
HIV statistics in 2021 by region (based on data from the WHO)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 28 million HIV-positive people around the globe managed to receive ART in 2021. However, the data shows that we are far from reaching the ‘95-95-95’ targets by the end of the decade.
Viral suppression
ART prevents HIV from replicating, thus suppressing the amount of virus in the body (viral load). Having undetectable viral levels means a person cannot spread HIV to others.
The 95-95-95 target in 2021 looked like:
- 85% were aware they are HIV-positive
- 75% were receiving treatment
- 68% were virally suppressed with an effectiveness rate of 92%.
HIV in Africa
- 25.6 million HIV-positive citizens
-
- 88% aware
- 78% on treatment
- 72% virally suppressed
-
- 860,000 new cases
- 2020-2021: the number of newly infected decreased from 0.86 to 0.78 per 1000 uninfected
- HIV-related fatalities: 420,000 (over 7% less than in 2020).
HIV in the Americas Region
- 3.8 million HIV-positive citizens
-
- 85% aware
- 74% on treatment
- 66% virally suppressed
-
- 160,000 new cases
- 2020-2021:the number of newly infected remained the same (0.16 per 1000 uninfected people)
- HIV-related fatalities: 43,000 (over 7% less than in 2020).
HIV in the South-East Asian Region
- 3.8 million HIV-positive citizens
-
- 74% aware
- 63% on treatment
- 55% virally suppressed
-
- 110,000 new cases
- 2020-2021: the number of newly infected remained the same (0.16 per 1000 uninfected people)
- HIV-related fatalities: 86,000 (about 2% more than in 2020).
HIV in the European Region
- 2.8 million HIV-positive citizens
-
- 73% aware
- 63% on treatment
- 60% virally suppressed
-
- 180,000 new cases
- 2020-2021: the number of newly infected remained the same (0.20 per 1000 uninfected people)
- HIV-related fatalities: 49,000 (about 0.2% more than in 2020).
HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
- 430,000 HIV-positive citizens
-
- 41% aware
- 41% on treatment
- 24% virally suppressed
-
- 42,000 new cases
- 2020-2021: the number of newly infected remained the same (0.06 per 1000 uninfected people)
- HIV-related fatalities: 19,000 (about 7.6% more than in 2020).
HIV in the Western Pacific Region
- 1.9 million HIV-positive citizens
-
- 88% of HIV-positive citizens
- 79% on treatment
- 76% virally suppressed
-
- 120,000 new cases
- 2020-2021: the number of newly infected remained the same (0.06 per 1000 uninfected people)
- HIV-related fatalities: 42,000 (about 1.7% more than in 2020).
The top 10 nations between 2000 and 2021 in terms of HIV infection rates
The diagrams show data among people aged between 15 and 49.
Source: Statista.com
Of all the countries on the planet, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of HIV infection.
Eswatini
In this nation, over 27% of the 1.2 million population are HIV-positive. CDC data shows that HIV/AIDS is the biggest killer in the state. Although the country has made significant progress regarding the issue (in the period 2011-2016 the rate of newly-infected citizens was cut by half), it remains a key problem.
Together with various organizations, the government is attempting to tackle the issue by increasing access to HIV testing and subsequent treatment. It is of note that those most affected are sex workers, with over 60.5% being HIV-positive.
Lesotho
Over 21% of the 2.3 million people of Lesotho are HIV-positive. As in Eswatini, the HIV virus here is the major cause of mortality and is partly to blame for the country’s declining life expectancy and high newborn mortality rates. The high poverty rate of around 36% makes it difficult to get HIV/AIDS treatment, which leads to an extremely short average life span among both men (52 years) and women (56 years).
Botswana
Almost 20% of the 2.6 million inhabitants of Botswana are infected with HIV. Nevertheless, the proportion of HIV-positive people is gradually declining as it is in many other African nations. Botswana provides free ART with the assistance of several international organizations. For instance, in 2020, ART was administered to over 98% of HIV-positive expectant mothers. This, in turn, led to a considerable reduction in mother-to-child HIV transmission (down to 1.91%).
Final word
To safeguard our well-being and reduce the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS, it is essential to carry out awareness-raising activities around the globe. Moreover, increased accessibility to diagnosis and treatment (especially in the most vulnerable nations) is crucial to decreasing the rate of AIDS-related deaths.
