New Infection and Death Cases Trend Downward: A Look at the Global HIV Journey of the Last 10 Years

Data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), processed by Our World in Data, shows that the global trajectory of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease tends to show a decrease in new infections and deaths. However, the number of people living with HIV has been increasing every year.

In 2009, the number of people living with HIV reached 2.93 million. New infection cases were also high, at 2.4 million. Deaths reached 1.45 million.

Gradually, new infection cases and deaths decreased. Our World in Data notes that the number of new infections began to decline significantly in 2019, falling below 2 million cases. This was the lowest number of new infections since 1990.

Deaths, however, only showed a significant decrease in 2016, falling below 1 million cases (996,000). This was the lowest number since 1996, as HIV-related deaths consistently exceeded 1 million cases in the preceding years.

Unfortunately, the graph consistently shows a continued increase in the number of people living with HIV. Although the rate of increase has slowed compared to the 1990s, the average number is the highest on record.

"This achievement indicates that more than 36 million people globally are living with HIV," wrote Our World in Data in its report.

Note that the latest data compiled is only up to 2019.