Today, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) launched its 2023 report showing that AIDS can be ended by 2030.

New data from the report ‘The Path that Ends AIDS’ highlights that 630,000 people died from this preventable disease in 2022, equivalent to more than one life claimed every minute. Significant progress has been made to combat HIV/AIDS, with the number of new HIV infections globally in 2022 dropping to its lowest point in decades. 

Yet that progress is at risk: in some regions and countries, new HIV infections are rising and funding for HIV from both international and domestic sources in 2022 fell to 2013 levels to US$20.8 billion, far short of the US$29.3 billion needed by 2025. 

In response to the UNAIDS report, Tom Hart, President of the ONE Campaign, said:

“This serves as a stark reminder that the world could end AIDS if it chose to. We have the tools, resources, and know-how to make it happen but there’s not the will to see it through. The global community is still taking their foot off the accelerator, leaving the most vulnerable to pay the highest price for this lack of ambition. 

“However, it is encouraging to see that more countries, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, are making serious progress in the fight against AIDS. But until local progress is matched by global determination, where people live will continue to determine whether they live.

“There is a clear path to ending AIDS as a public health threat by the end of the decade. Making that a reality will depend upon renewed political commitment and investment from all governments.”

Notes to editors section 

• ONE is calling for a greater focus on sustainability and a renewed political commitment from all governments, including the United States as PEPFAR looks to be reauthorised this year. ONE is also calling on donors to ensure sustainable financing of the HIV response, invest in health systems and help make gains in notoriously challenging areas like ending stigma and discrimination and advancing gender equity.
• According to the new UNAIDS report, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2022, a 69% decrease from the peak in 2004. 
• 29.8 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2022, up from 7.7 million in 2010.
• 1.3 million people became newly infected with HIV, a 59% decrease since the peak in 1995
• 39 million people globally were living with HIV in 2022
• 85.6 million people have been infected with HIV and 40.4 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic
• Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zimbabwe have already achieved the “95-95-95” targets. That means 95% of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of the people who know that they are living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of people who are on treatment are virally suppressed. Sixteen additional countries, eight of them in sub-Saharan Africa, the region which accounts for 65% of all people living with HIV, are also close to reaching these targets.
• ONE’s updated health topic page shows the latest data and trends in the HIV response.