What is the global prevalence of HIV/AIDS?

As of 2020, approximately 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS remains a significant global public health issue, having claimed over 32.7 million lives so far. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that as of the end of 2020, around 38 million people across the globe are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The vast majority of these people live in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which is the most affected region.

The global prevalence of HIV/AIDS varies greatly between countries and regions. In 2020, Eastern and Southern Africa were home to 20.7 million people living with HIV, accounting for over half of the global total. Western and Central Africa followed with 5 million people, while Asia and the Pacific had 5.8 million. Eastern Europe and Central Asia reported 1.7 million people living with HIV, Latin America 2.1 million, the Middle East and North Africa 240,000, Western and Central Europe and North America 2.2 million, and the Caribbean 330,000.

Despite the high prevalence, significant progress has been made in the global response to HIV. The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased dramatically, from just a few hundred thousand in 2000 to 27.5 million in 2020. This has led to a significant reduction in AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections. However, there is still a long way to go. The UNAIDS 2020 targets for HIV treatment were not met, indicating that efforts to end the epidemic need to be accelerated.

Understanding the global prevalence of HIV/AIDS is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat the disease. It helps to identify the regions most in need of resources and interventions, and to monitor progress towards global targets. As future scientists, you may play a key role in this endeavour, whether through research, policy-making, or direct healthcare provision.