HIV/AIDS Statistics - Worldwide
Updated March 2010
It is estimated that there were 33.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide at the end of 2008. Approximately 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV (the AIDS virus) in 2008 . UNAIDS estimates that HIV/AIDS took the lives of more than 2 million people in 2008.
Women account for approximately 50% of people infected with HIV. In most regions of the world, HIV is affecting women and girls in increasing numbers.
In 2008, around 430,000 children were born with HIV, bringing to 2.1 million the total number of children under 15 living with HIV.
Young people account for around 40% of all new adult (15+) HIV infections worldwide.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected and is home to 67% of all people living with HIV worldwide and 91% of all new infections among children. In sub-Saharan Africa the epidemic has orphaned more than 14 million children.
The percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women who received treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to their child increased from 33% in 2007 to 45% in 2008.
Latest data indicate that fewer than 40% of young people have basic information about HIV and less than 40% of people living with HIV know their status.
The number of new HIV infections continues to outstrip the numbers on treatment—for every two people starting treatment, a further five become infected with the virus.
1. UNAIDS 2009 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
