UNAIDS Reports Lowest HIV Infections and Deaths in Over 30 Years

A special report from UNAIDS released in August 2026 indicates that new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen to their lowest levels in more than three decades. The data was published to coincide with the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro.

Seven countries — Benin, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Nepal, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe — have achieved an almost 80% reduction in new HIV infections since 2010. Additionally, 11 countries have met the "95-95-95" treatment targets, meaning 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.

The report highlights advances in long-acting prevention tools, including monthly and six-month injections as well as monthly pills in late-stage trials. UNAIDS described the pipeline of prevention medicines as offering "close to vaccine-like protection" and called it an "HIV prevention revolution."

Brazil increased the number of people accessing HIV prevention medicines at least once in the past year by 41%. Ethiopia and Uganda expanded access through domestic and other funding, while South Africa continues negotiating pricing deals for twice-yearly lenacapavir injections.

In June 2026, results from the Purpose 1 trial for lenacapavir showed zero HIV infections among 3,200 young female participants. UNITAID, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and partners have pooled funding to begin rolling out lenacapavir with a goal of reaching 3 million people by 2028.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima stated that despite enormous challenges, ending AIDS remains within reach. She urged partners and governments to remobilize around the targets set in the UN Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted in 2026.

The report acknowledges that significant challenges persist, but frames the current trajectory as evidence that the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat is still achievable if progress is sustained and expanded.