HIV is a global public health issue with significant variation in prevalence by region and population groups.

• As of 2023-2024, approximately 39.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV, which corresponds to about 0.6% to 0.7% of adults aged 15–49 years globally

• The epidemic is most severe in Southern Africa, where adult HIV prevalence exceeds 20% in countries like Eswatini, Botswana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, and is at least 10% in several other countries. Over 10% of all people with HIV/AIDS reside in this region

• In the United States, about 1.2 million people have HIV, with an estimated 31,800 new infections occurring in 2022. The overall rate of new HIV infections in the U.S. has declined by 12% from 2018 to 2022, though the epidemic disproportionately affects certain populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), racial and ethnic minorities, and people in the Southern states

• Globally, new HIV infections have declined by 39% since 2010 and by 60% since the peak in 1995, with an estimated 1.3 million new infections in 2023

• Higher prevalence is observed among key populations including sex workers, gay and bisexual men, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and prisoners

In summary, while HIV affects a relatively small percentage of the global population (under 1%), it remains highly concentrated in certain regions and populations, with Southern Africa being the most affected area worldwide. The epidemic is declining overall but continues to pose significant public health challenges in specific communities and regions