Global AIDS Fight Falters Despite Progress

New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen to their lowest levels in more than three decades, marking significant progress in the global response. As of the end of 2025, 40.9 million people were living with HIV, with new infections reduced by 65% since their 1995 peak. AIDS-related deaths have also seen a substantial decline of 74% since their 2004 peak.

However, the latest UNAIDS report indicates that the world is currently off track to end AIDS as a public health threat by the 2030 target. Funding for HIV responses has become increasingly uncertain, with external financing for development sectors falling by 23% compared to the previous year.

This financial pressure threatens the sustainability of treatment programs, especially in regions like western and central Africa where reliance on external funding is high. Community-led organizations, crucial for supporting people living with HIV, are particularly vulnerable to these funding disruptions.

Achieving the 2030 global HIV targets requires an estimated US$21.9 billion annually in low- and middle-income countries. The report emphasizes that restoring global solidarity and addressing existing inequalities are critical for success. A new five-year strategy has been developed to guide collective action towards ensuring widespread access to treatment, prevention services, and discrimination-free HIV-related services by 2030.