April 22, 2024

Fast Facts: HIV in the US by Age

While HIV affects all people in the United States, some age groups are especially affected. In 2022, people aged 13 to 34 accounted for more than half (60%) of estimated new HIV infections. Get the latest data on HIV by age.

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Fast facts

HIV affects some groups more than others. Social and structural issues—such as HIV stigma, homophobia, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to high-quality health care—influence health outcomes and continue to drive inequities.

HIV incidence

HIV incidence refers to the estimated number of new HIV infections in a given year.

There were 31,800 estimated new HIV infections in the US in 2022. Among people aged 13 to 24, there were 6,400 estimated new HIV infections; among people aged 25 to 34, there were 12,700; among people aged 35 to 44, there were 6,700; among people aged 45 to 54, there were 3,400; among people aged 55 to 64, there were 2,100; and among people aged 65 and older, there were 520. The Ending the HIV Epidemic overall goal is to decrease the estimated number of new HIV infections to 9,300 by 2025 and 3,000 by 2030. — Estimated HIV infections in the US by age.

HIV diagnoses

HIV diagnoses refers to the number of people who received an HIV diagnosis during a given year.

In 2022, 37,981 people received an HIV diagnosis in the US and 6 territories and freely associated states. People aged 13 to 34 accounted for more than half (56%) of new HIV diagnoses in 2022. Among people aged 12 and under, there were 62 HIV diagnoses in 2022; among people aged 13 to 24, there were 7,099; among people aged 25 to 34, there were 14,160; among people aged 35 to 44, there were 8,367; among people aged 45 to 54, there were 4,576; among people aged 55 to 64, there were 2,886; and among people 65 and older, there were 893 HIV diagnoses in 2022. The Ending the HIV Epidemic overall goal is to decrease the number of new HIV diagnoses to 9,588 by 2025 and 3,000 by 2030. — HIV diagnoses in the US and 6 territories and freely associated states by age.

These charts show the number of new HIV diagnoses among men and women by age group in 2022. Among all men, there were 30,935 HIV diagnoses in 2022; of those, 20% (6,224) were among men aged 13 to 24; 39% (12,111) were among men aged 25 to 34; 21% (6,561) were among men aged 35 to 44; 11% (3,314) were among men aged 45 to 54; 7% (2,099) were among men aged 55 to 64; and 2% (626) were among men aged 65 and older. Among all women, there were 7,046 HIV diagnoses in 2022; of those, 12% (875) were among women aged 13 to 24; 29% (2,049) were among women aged 25 to 34; 26% (1,806) were among women aged 35 to 44; 18% (1,262) were among women aged 45 to 54; 11% (787) were among women aged 55 to 64; and 4% (267) were among women aged 65 and older. — HIV diagnoses among men and women by age group.

From 2018 to 2022, HIV diagnoses remained stable overall in the US and 6 territories and freely associated states. But trends varied for different age groups. 

This chart shows the trends in HIV diagnoses by age group. For children aged 12 and under, new HIV diagnoses decreased 27% from 2018 to 2022. For youth aged 13 to 24, diagnoses decreased by 11%. For people aged 25 to 34, diagnoses increased by 5%. For people aged 35 to 44, diagnoses increased 17%. For people aged 45 to 54, diagnoses decreased by 13 percent. HIV diagnoses for people aged 55 to 64 and people 65 and older both remained stable. — Trends in HIV diagnoses from 2018 to 2022 by age group.

Knowledge of status

Knowledge of status refers to the estimated percentage of people with HIV who have received an HIV diagnosis.

In 2022, an estimated 1.2 million people had HIV in the US. For every 100 people with HIV, 87 knew their status. The overall Ending the HIV Epidemic goal is to increase the estimated percentage of people with HIV who have received an HIV diagnosis to at least 95% by 2025 and remain at 95% by 2030. — How many people with HIV knew their HIV status in the US.

For every 100 people with HIV aged 13 to 24, 56 knew their HIV status. For every 100 people with HIV aged 25 to 34, 72 knew their HIV status. For every 100 people with HIV aged 35 to 44, 84 knew their status. For every 100 people with HIV aged 45 to 54, 92 knew their HIV status. For every 100 people with HIV aged 55 to 64, 96 knew their HIV status. For every 100 people with HIV aged 65 and older, 98 knew their HIV status. — How many people knew their HIV status in the US by age group.

Behaviors associated with HIV transmission

The chances of getting or transmitting HIV varies widely depending on the type of exposure or behavior. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through anal or vaginal sex, or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment—for example, cookers.

Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load is the best way for people with HIV to stay healthy and protect others. Among people with HIV aged 25 to 34, 17% had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy in the past 12 months. Among people with HIV aged 35 to 44, 10% had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy; 6% of people with HIV aged 45 to 54 and 5% of people with HIV aged 55 and older had sex without using any HIV prevention strategy in the last 12 months. — Sexual behaviors among people with diagnosed HIV by age group.

One-third (33%) of PWID without HIV used a syringe after someone else used it and more than half (60%) of PWID without HIV used any injection equipment after someone else used it in the past month. 48% of PWID without HIV aged 18 to 24, 44% of PWID without HIV aged 25 to 29, 40% of PWID without HIV aged 30 to 39, 31% of PWID without HIV aged 40 to 49, and 24% of PWID without HIV aged 50 and older, used a syringe after someone else used it in the past 12 months. 72% of PWID without HIV aged 18 to 24, 71% of PWID without HIV aged 25 to 29, 67% of PWID without HIV aged 30 to 39, 60% of PWID without HIV aged 40 to 49, and 50% of PWID without HIV aged 50 and older used any injection equipment after someone else used it in the past 12 months. — Injection behaviors among PWID without HIV by age group.

PrEP coverage

CDC has paused PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) coverage reporting to determine the best methodology for calculating PrEP coverage, and to update PrEP coverage estimates using updated methods and sources. CDC plans to resume PrEP coverage reporting in the next HIV Monitoring Report for all demographic groups, currently scheduled for publication in June 2025. Until updated PrEP coverage estimates are published, CDC advises against citing specific PrEP coverage data points, as historical estimates will be updated.

Keep Reading: Monitoring Selected National HIV Prevention and Care Objectives by Using HIV Surveillance Data United States and 6 Territories and Freely Associated States, 2022

Viral suppression and barriers to care

Viral suppression refers to the percentage of people with diagnosed HIV who have less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

More than half of people with diagnosed HIV are virally suppressed. For every 100 people overall with diagnosed HIV, 76 received some care, 54 were retained in care, and 65 were virally suppressed. The overall Ending the HIV Epidemic goal is to increase the percentage of people with diagnosed HIV who are virally suppressed to at least 95% by 2025 and remain at 95% by 2030. — HIV care among people with diagnosed HIV in the US.

For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 13 to 24, 80 received some HIV care, 55 were retained in care, and 66 were virally suppressed. For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 25 to 34, 78 received some HIV care, 52 were retained in care, and 63 were virally suppressed. For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 35 to 44, 76 received some HIV care, 52 were retained in care, and 63 were virally suppressed. For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 45 to 54, 75 received some HIV care, 53 were retained in care, and 65 were virally suppressed. For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 55 to 64, 77 received some HIV care, 57 were retained in care, and 68 were virally suppressed. For every 100 people with diagnosed HIV aged 65 and over, 71 received some HIV care, 54 were retained in care, and 64 were virally suppressed. — HIV care among people with diagnosed HIV by age group.

Many people with HIV experience challenges with achieving and maintaining viral suppression over time. Some of these challenges include missing HIV medical appointments, needing but not receiving other important health care services, or missing doses of HIV treatment.