HIV Prevalence
Number of people living with HIV infection.
Quick Reference
Unit
people
Category
Health
Metric Code
hiv_prevalence
How It's Calculated
Estimated number of people of all ages living with HIV, based on surveillance data, population-based surveys, antenatal clinic sentinel surveillance, and UNAIDS Spectrum modeling. Includes diagnosed and undiagnosed cases. Often expressed as prevalence rate (percentage of population ages 15-49).
Why It Matters
HIV/AIDS has killed over 40 million people since the epidemic began. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition in high-income countries, it remains a leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV prevalence guides resource allocation for testing, treatment, and prevention programs. It is SDG Indicator 3.3.1.
Understanding the Values
Very Low: < 0.1% prevalence (minimal burden - most high-income countries) Low: 0.1-1% prevalence (low burden - targeted interventions needed) Moderate: 1-5% prevalence (concentrated epidemic - key populations affected) High: 5-15% prevalence (generalized epidemic - affecting general population) Very High: > 15% prevalence (severe epidemic - Southern Africa: Eswatini 27%, Lesotho 23%) Global total: ~39 million people living with HIV (2022) New infections: ~1.3 million/year (down from 3 million in 1997) SDG Target 3.3: End AIDS epidemic by 2030
Related Metrics
Life Expectancy at Birth
Average number of years a newborn is expected to live under current mortality patterns.
Tuberculosis Incidence Rate
Estimated number of new tuberculosis cases per 100,000 population per year.
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Service Coverage Index
Composite index measuring coverage of essential health services, ranging from 0 to 100.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: 170 countries with estimates Update frequency: Annual Source: UN Data / UNAIDS Limitations: Estimates rely on models, not direct counts, with wide uncertainty intervals. Stigma leads to underreporting. "Prevalence" measures total living with HIV, not new infections (incidence). Does not capture treatment coverage (% on ART) or viral suppression (% undetectable). Varies greatly by age, sex, and key populations (sex workers, MSM, PWID).