UN Reports Alarmingly High Death Toll from AIDS in 2023
In a sobering update, the United Nations has revealed that nearly 40 million people were living with HIV in 2023, with a staggering 9 million lacking access to life-saving treatment. Tragically, every minute, someone lost their life to AIDS-related causes, highlighting a pressing global health crisis.
Despite significant progress since 2004, when AIDS-related deaths peaked at 2.1 million, the 2023 death toll of 630,000 remains more than double the target of fewer than 250,000 deaths by 2025. The report points to a slowdown in progress, dwindling funding, and a troubling rise in new infections in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America.
Gender inequality is a major factor exacerbating the crisis, particularly affecting girls and young women in Africa, where HIV rates are high among adolescents. Additionally, marginalized communities, often facing stigma and discrimination, account for 55% of new infections in 2023.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has called on global leaders to bolster resources for the HIV response and safeguard human rights. The organization also highlighted a need for more accessible HIV treatments, including expensive long-lasting injections priced at $40,000 annually, and is advocating for lower-cost options for low- and middle-income countries.
Despite efforts to reduce new infections to below 370,000 by 2025, the report indicates over 1.3 million new cases in 2023. Of the 39.9 million people living with HIV worldwide, 86% are aware of their status, 77% are on treatment, and 72% have suppressed the virus.
The upcoming 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich will address these challenges and advancements, including recent promising developments such as cases where HIV-positive individuals treated for leukemia showed no signs of the virus afterward. UNAIDS continues to push for a preventive vaccine and more affordable treatment options for all affected individuals.