Fast Facts: HIV in the United States

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.

Estimated HIV infections in the US by transmission category, 2021*

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Learn about estimated HIV infections in the US by transmission category.

_{* Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

HIV infections among gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact

In 2021, gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact accounted for 70% (22,400) of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections and 86% of estimated infections among all men.

Estimated HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in the US, 2017-2021*

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Learn more about estimated HIV infections among gay and bisexual men.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

HIV infections among people who reported heterosexual contact

In 2021, people reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 22% (7,100) of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections.

• Men reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 6% (2,000) of estimated new HIV infections.
• Women reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 16% (5,100) of estimated new HIV infections.

Estimated HIV infections among people who reported heterosexual contact in the US, 2017-2021*

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Learn more about estimated HIV infections among people who reported heterosexual contact.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

HIV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID)

In 2021, PWID accounted for 8% (2,500) of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections.

• Men who inject drugs accounted for 4% (1,400) of estimated new HIV infections.
• Women who inject drugs accounted for 3% (1,100) of estimated new HIV infections.

Estimated HIV infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the US, 2017-2021*

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Learn more about estimated HIV infections among people who inject drugs.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

HIV infections by region

In 2021, the South accounted for more than half (52%) of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections.

Estimated HIV infections in the US by region, 2021*

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Learn more about estimated HIV infections in the US by region.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

HIV diagnoses

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

HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas by transmission category, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses by transmission category.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses in the US and Dependent areas for the most-affected subpopulations, 2021*†

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses among the most-affected subpopulations.

_{Subpopulations representing 2% or less of all people who received an HIV diagnosis in 2021 are not represented in this chart.}

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Transmission category is classified based on a hierarchy of risk factors most likely responsible for HIV transmission. Classification is determined based on the person’s assigned sex at birth. Data have been statistically adjusted to account for missing transmission category.}

_{‡ Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{** Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses among transgender people

In 2021, transgender people accounted for 2% (868) of the 36,136 new HIV diagnoses.

• Transgender women accounted for 2% (812) of new HIV diagnoses.
• Transgender men accounted for less than 1% (56) of new HIV diagnoses.

HIV diagnoses among transgender people in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses among transgender people.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{‡ Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

Trends in HIV diagnoses among transgender people in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2017-2021*

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Learn more about trends in HIV diagnoses among transgender people.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Changes in subpopulations with fewer HIV diagnoses can lead to a large percentage increase or decrease.}

_{‡ Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{** Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men

Gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact are the population most affected by HIV. In 2021, gay and bisexual men accounted for 71% (25,482) of the 36,136 new HIV diagnoses and 86% of diagnoses among all men.

HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2021*†

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men by race and ethnicity.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older}

_{†Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).}

_{‡Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{** Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

From 2017 to 2021, HIV diagnoses decreased 6% among gay and bisexual men overall. But trends varied for different groups of gay and bisexual men.

Trends in HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2017-2021*

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Learn more about trends in HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men by race and ethnicity.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Changes in subpopulations with fewer HIV diagnoses can lead to a large percentage increase or decrease.}

_{‡Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{** Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses among people who reported heterosexual contact

Men and women who reported heterosexual contact continue to be affected by HIV. In 2021, people reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 22% (8,059) of the 36,136 new HIV diagnoses.

• Men reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 7% (2,523) of new HIV diagnoses.
• Women reporting heterosexual contact accounted for 15% (5,536) of new HIV diagnoses.

HIV diagnoses among people who reported heterosexual contact in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses among people who reported heterosexual contact by race and ethnicity.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{†Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{‡ Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

From 2017 to 2021, HIV diagnoses from heterosexual contact decreased 12% overall.

Trends in HIV diagnoses among people who reported heterosexual contact in the US and dependent areas, 2017-2021*†

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Learn more about trends in HIV diagnoses among people who reported heterosexual contact.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Based on assigned sex at birth and includes transgender people.}

_{‡ Changes in subpopulations with fewer HIV diagnoses can lead to a large percentage increase or decrease.}

_{**Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{†† Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs (PWID)

In 2021, PWID accounted for 7% (2,512) of the 36,136 new HIV diagnoses.

• Men who inject drugs accounted for 4% (1,436) of new HIV diagnoses.
• Women who inject drugs accounted for 3% (1,076) of new HIV diagnoses.

HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs by race and ethnicity.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{‡ Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

From 2017 to 2021, HIV diagnoses remained stable among PWID overall.

Trends in HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in the US and dependent areas, 2017-2021*†‡

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Learn more about trends in HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).}

_{‡ Based on assigned sex at birth and includes transgender people.}

_{** Changes in subpopulations with fewer HIV diagnoses can lead to a large percentage increase or decrease.}

_{†† Black refers to people having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for people of African descent with ancestry in North America.}

_{‡‡ Hispanic/Latino people can be of any race.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

HIV diagnoses by region

HIV diagnoses are not evenly distributed regionally in the US and dependent areas.

Rates of HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas by region, 2021*†

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Learn more about rates of HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas.

_{*Rates are per 100,000 people.}

_{† Among adults, adolescents, and children under the age of 13.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

Knowledge of status

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

Knowledge of HIV status in the US, 2021*

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Learn more about how many people with HIV in the US know their HIV status. 

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

Knowledge of HIV status in the US by transmission category, 2021*

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Learn more about knowledge of HIV status among people with HIV in the US by transmission category.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact only.}

_{‡ Includes infections attributed to injection drug use only. Among men with HIV attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use, 92% knew they had HIV.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

Knowledge of HIV status in the US by region, 2021*

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Learn more about knowledge of HIV status among people with HIV in the US by region.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021.HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28(3).}

PrEP coverage

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) coverage refers to the estimated percentage of people with indications for PrEP classified as having been prescribed PrEP.

PrEP coverage in the US and Puerto Rico, 2021

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Learn more about PrEP coverage in the United States.

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2023;28(4).}

PrEP coverage in the US and Puerto Rico by area of residence, 2021*

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Learn more about PrEP coverage by area of residence.

_{*Among people aged 16 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2023;28(4).}

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.

HIV care continuum among people with diagnosed HIV in 47 states and the District of Columbia, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV care and viral suppression among people with diagnosed HIV in the US. 

_{*Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{†At least 1 viral load or CD4 test.}

_{‡Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.}

_{**Based on most recent viral load test.}

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2023;28(4).}

HIV care continuum among transgender people with diagnosed HIV in 47 states and the District of Columbia, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV care and viral suppression among transgender people with diagnosed HIV. 

_{*Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{†At least 1 viral load or CD4 test.}

_{‡Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.}

_{**Based on most recent viral load test.}

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2023;28(4).}

HIV care continuum among people with diagnosed HIV in 47 states and the District of Columbia by transmission category, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV care and viral suppression among with diagnosed HIV by transmission category. 

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{† Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact only.}

_{‡ At least 1 viral load or CD4 test.}

_{** Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.}

_{†† Based on most recent viral load test.}

_{‡‡ Includes infections attributed to injection drug use only. For every 100 men with HIV attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use, 78 received some HIV care, 56 were retained in care, and 65 were virally suppressed.}

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2023;28(4).}

HIV care continuum among people with diagnosed HIV in 47 states and the District of Columbia by region, 2021*

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Learn more about HIV care and viral suppression among people with diagnosed HIV by region. 

_{*Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{†At least 1 viral load or CD4 test.}

_{‡Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.}

_{**Based on most recent viral load test.}

_{Source: CDC. Monitoring selected national HIV prevention and care objectives by using HIV surveillance data—United States and 6 dependent areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report  2023;28(4).}

People with diagnosed HIV in the US and dependent areas by age, 2021

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Learn more about people with diagnosed HIV by age.

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

Most HIV cases occur in metropolitan areas with 500,000 or more people. The South has the highest number of people living with HIV, but if population size is taken into account, the Northeast has the highest rate of people living with HIV.

Rates of people with diagnosed HIV in the US and dependent areas by region of residence, 2021*†

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Learn more about the rates of people with diagnosed HIV by region of residence. 

_{* Rates per 100,000 people.}

_{† Includes adults, adolescents, and children under the age of 13.}

_{Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2021.HIV Surveillance Report 2023;34.}

Although many people taking HIV medicine are virally suppressed, some people with HIV are currently not virally suppressed or do not maintain viral suppression over time. Some challenges with achieving and maintaining viral suppression include HIV stigma, physical health, mental health, and structural issues—such as food insecurity, unemployment, and unstable housing or homelessness.

Median HIV stigma score among people with diagnosed HIV in the US, 2020*

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Learn more about how people with HIV experience stigma.

_{Median HIV stigma scores are presented based on a ten-item scale ranging from 0 (no stigma) to 100 (high stigma) that measures personalized stigma during the past 12 months, current disclosure concerns, current negative self-image, and current perceived public attitudes about people with HIV.}

_{* Among people aged 18 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Behavioral and clinical characteristics of persons with diagnosed HIV infection—Medical Monitoring Project, United States 2020 cycle (June 2020–May 2021). HIV Surveillance Special Report 2022;29.}

Self-rated health among people with diagnosed HIV in the US, 2020*

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Learn more about self-rated health among people with HIV. 

_{* Among people aged 18 and older.}

_{† Good or better self-rated health is defined as rating one’s health as good, very good, or excellent (as opposed to poor or fair) at the time of interview.}

_{Source: CDC. Quality of life and HIV stigma—Indicators for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, 2022–2025, CDC Medical Monitoring Project, 2017–2020 cycles. HIV Surveillance Special Report  2022;30.}

Unmet need for services from a mental health professional among people with diagnosed HIV in the US, 2020*†

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Learn more about people with HIV who reported needing, but not receiving, mental health services. 

_{* Among people aged 18 and older.}

_{† Among people with diagnosed HIV who reported an unmet need for mental health services in the past 12 months.}

_{Source: CDC. Quality of life and HIV stigma—Indicators for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, 2022–2025, CDC Medical Monitoring Project, 2017–2020 cycles. HIV Surveillance Special Report 2022;30.}

Food insecurity, unemployment, and unstable housing among people with diagnosed HIV in the US, 2020*

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Learn more about food insecurity, unemployment, and unstable housing among people with diagnosed HIV. 

_{* Among people with HIV aged 18 and older.}

_{Source: CDC. Quality of life and HIV stigma—Indicators for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, 2022–2025, CDC Medical Monitoring Project, 2017–2020 cycles. HIV Surveillance Special Report 2022;30.}