Collection of data on HIV infections (known as 'HIV surveillance') is an essential first step towards understanding the scope and nature of the HIV epidemic at both a local and global level.

Analysis of this data helps governments and non-government organisations develop evidence-based responses to HIV.

In Australia, HIV data is collected at a state and territory level and analysed by the Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society. An annual report on their findings is released each year at the national HIV conference.

Globally, HIV data is analysed by the United Nations Program on AIDS  (UNAIDS) and released in the form of regular country, regional and global reports.

Information on this page is drawn from these reports.

A summary of HIV statistics in Australia

Asia and the Pacific

The Global picture

More info and social research links

HIV/AIDS statistics in Australia

In the year to December 2010* there were:

• 1,043 diagnoses of HIV infection
• Up to 31 December 2010, the cumulative number of HIV infections in Australia was estimated at 30,486.
• An estimated 21,391 people were living with HIV/AIDS in Australia in 2010.
• Transmission of HIV in Australia occurs primarily through sexual contact between men. Between 2006 and 2010, 86% of newly acquired HIV infections were in men who have sex with men.

Source:

Annual Surveillance Report 2011 (PDF file, 4MB), Kirby Institute for infection and immunity in society

* Data for the previous calendar year is released in September/October each year. No more recent data is available.

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Asia and the Pacific

Asia

• In Asia an estimated 4.9 million people were living with HIV in 2009 and an estimated 330,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses.
• There were 350,000 people newly infected with HIV in 2009, 20% lower than figures from 2001. Incidence fell by more than 25% in India, Nepal and Thailand between 2001 and 2009 and remained stable in Malaysia and Sri Lanka during this time period.
• While the epidemic appears to be stable throughout most of the region, prevalence is increasing in some areas. Incidence increased by 25% in Bangladesh and the Philippines between 2001 -2009 although the countries continue to have relatively low epidemics

Source:

Global Report. UNAIDS Report on the Global Epidemic 2010

Oceania

• In 2009, 4,500 new HIV infections occurred in the Oceania region, bringing the total number of people living with HIV to 57,000. 
• The majority of infections in this region are in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Australia and New Zealand. PNG has the region's largest HIV epidemic, with an HV prevalence of 0.9%, however there is some evidence this is beginning to level off.
• unprotected hetersexual intercourse is the main mode of transmission in PNG.
• Unprotected homosexual intercourse is the main mode of transmision in Australia, New Zealand and smaller Pacific countries.

Source:

UNAIDS Epidemic Update 2010 - Oceania Fact Sheet

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The global picture

By the end of 2010, 34 million people were estimated to be living with HIV.

In 2010:

• 1.8 million people died of AIDS-related causes.
• 2.7 million people became newly infected with HIV, including an estimated 390,000 children.
• The proportion of women living with HIV remains stable at 50% globally.
• Globally, new HIV infections have declined by 21% since 1997.

Impact of treatments

• UNAIDS estimates that a total of 2.5 million deaths have been averted in low- and middle-income countries since 1995 due to the roll out of antiretroviral therapy, 700,000 of them in 2010 alone.
  
• Nearly half of people (47%) eligible for antiretroviral treatment are now receiving it, including some 6.6. million people in low- and middle-income countries.
  
• In 2010, 48% of pregnant women living with HIV received effective treatment regimens to prevent them passing HIV to their children.
  
• AIDS-related deaths among children younger than 15 have declined by 20% from 2005 to 2010.
  

Sources:

How to get to zero: UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011

View the UNAIDS Fact Sheet for summary of statistics

Also of interest:

HIV InSite Country and Regions Pages A source of regularly updated international HIV/AIDS information, including global and regional HIV/AIDS overviews, as well as 194 individual country pages and a database of epidemiological and socioeconomic data.

http://www.womenandaids.net/ The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS.

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More info and social research links

If you are seeking personal accounts by people living with HIV (PLHIV), about how their lives are affected by this condition, see the Personal Stories on this website.

If you are seeking information about how the law affects the lives of PLHIV, check out the Policy section of this website.

If you are seeking a social analysis of HIV/AIDS in Australia, the links below may be helpful:

The National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR) conducts a variety of social research, including research into:

• the impact of HIV on people with a positive HIV diagnosis;
• issues and concerns of PLHIV;
• sexual and drug taking behaviour that carries a risk of HIV;
• trends in gay community behaviour and attitudes relating to sex (periodic surveys).

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society (ARCSHS) undertakes research into social and behavioural aspects of sexually transmissible diseases, their prevention and consequences.

ARCSHS conducts the HIV Futures Survey, a large scale survey of people living with HIV/AIDS. The survey enables researchers to examine Australian trends among a large sample of PLHIV on a range of issues, including health, treatments, poverty, employment and relationships.

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