HIV in the United States and Dependent Areas

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In 2018, 37,968 people received an HIV diagnosisa in the United States (US) and dependent areas.b From 2014 to 2018, HIV diagnoses decreased 7% among adults and adolescents. However, annual diagnoses have increased among some groups.

HIV Diagnoses

This banner shows 69 percent of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas were among gay and bisexual men, 24 percent were among heterosexuals, and 7 percent were among people who inject drugs.

New HIV Diagnoses in the US and Dependent Areas for the Most-Affected Subpopulations, 2018

This bar chart shows new HIV diagnoses among the most affected subpopulations United States and dependent areas in 2018. Black/African American, male-to-male sexual contact = 9,444; Hispanic/Latino, male-to-male sexual contact = 7,653; White, male-to-male sexual contact = 6,372; Black/African American women, heterosexual contact = 3,758; Black/African American men, heterosexual contact = 1,739; Hispanic women/Latinas, heterosexual contact = 1,109; White women, heterosexual contact = 956.

* Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America.
† Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Subpopulations representing 2% or less of all people who received an HIV diagnosis in 2018 are not represented in this chart.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

New HIV Diagnoses in the US and Dependent Areas by Age, 2018

This bar chart shows new HIV diagnoses by age in the United States and dependent areas in 2018. 13 to 24 = 7,891; 25 to 34 = 13,491; 35 to 44 = 7,275; 45 to 54 = 5,389; 55 and older = 3,835.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

Gay and Bisexual Men

Gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contactc are the population most affected by HIV. In 2018, gay and bisexual men accounted for 69% of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses and 86% of diagnoses among males.d

New HIV Diagnoses Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the US and Dependent Areas by Race/Ethnicity, 2018d

This pie chart shows HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in the United States and dependent areas in 2018 by race. Black/African American gay and bisexual men made up 37 percent of new HIV diagnoses, Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men made up 30 percent, white gay and bisexual men made up 27 percent, Asian gay and bisexual men made up 3 percent, gay and bisexual men of multiple races made up 3 percent, American Indian/Alaska Native gay and bisexual men made up 1 percent and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander gay and bisexual men made up less than 1 percent of new HIV diagnoses.

* Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America.
† Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

HIV Diagnoses Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the US and Dependent Areas, 2014-2018d

This trend chart shows HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in the US and dependent areas from 2014 to 2018. HIV diagnoses remained stable among gay and bisexual men decreased 7 percent. Gay and bisexual men by race/ethnicity, Black/African American gay and bisexual men remained stable; Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men remained stable; white gay and bisexual men decreased 15 percent; Asian gay and bisexual men remained stable; gay and bisexual men of multiple races decreased 44 percent; American Indian/Alaska Native gay and bisexual men increased 15 percent; and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander gay and bisexual men increased 78 percent.

There were large increases/decreases in populations with fewer diagnoses.
*Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America.
† Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

Heterosexuals

Heterosexuals continue to be affected by HIV. In 2018, heterosexuals accounted for 24% of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses.e

  • Heterosexual men accounted for 8% of new HIV diagnoses.
  • Heterosexual women accounted for 16% of new HIV diagnoses.

HIV Diagnoses Among Heterosexuals in the US and Dependent Areas, 2014-2018

This trend chart shows HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals in the US and dependent areas from 2014 to 2018. HIV diagnoses decreased 10 percent overall among heterosexuals. By sex, heterosexual men decreased 13 percent and heterosexual women decreased 9 percent.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

People Who Inject Drugs (PWID)

In 2018, PWID accounted for 7% of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses.f

  • Men who inject drugs accounted for 4% of new HIV diagnoses.
  • Women who inject drugs accounted for 3% of new HIV diagnoses.

HIV Diagnoses Among People Who Inject Drugs in the US and Dependent Areas, 2014-2018

This trend chart shows HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the US and dependent areas from 2014 to 2018. HIV diagnoses increased 9 percent overall among PWID. By sex, PWID men increased 10 percent and PWID women increased 7 percent.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

By Race/Ethnicity

Blacks/African Americansg and Hispanics/Latinosh are disproportionately affected by HIV. In 2018:

  • Blacks/African Americans accounted for 42% of new HIV diagnoses and 13% of the population.i
  • Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 27% of new HIV diagnoses and 18% of the population.i

New HIV Diagnoses in the US and Dependent Areas by Race/Ethnicity, 2018

This pie chart shows HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas in 2018 by race. Blacks/African Americans made up 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses, Hispanics/Latinos made up 27 percent, whites made up 25 percent, Asians made up 2 percent, multiple races made up 2 percent, American Indians/Alaska Natives made up less than 1 percent, and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders made up less than 1 percent of new HIV diagnoses.

* Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America.
† Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

HIV Diagnoses in the US and Dependent Areas by Race/Ethnicity, 2014-2018

This trend chart shows HIV diagnoses by race/ethnicity in the US and dependent areas from 2014 to 2018. HIV diagnoses among Blacks/African Americans decreased 7 percent; Hispanics/Latinos remained stable; whites decreased 8 percent; Asians remained stable; multiple races decreased 42 percent; American Indians/Alaska Natives increased 6 percent; and Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders increased 55 percent.

There were large increases/decreases in populations with fewer diagnoses.
*Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America.
† Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2018 (updated). HIV Surveillance Report 2020;31.

By Region

HIV diagnoses are not evenly distributed regionally in the US. In 2018, the population rates (per 100,000 people) of people who received an HIV diagnosis were highest in the South (15.6), followed by the US dependent areas (12.6), the Northeast (9.9), the West (9.7), and the Midwest (7.2).j

Living With HIV

Adults and Adolescents With HIV in the 50 States and District of Columbia

This infographic shows the continuum of care data for adults and adolescents with HIV. At the end of 2018, an estimated 1,173,900 people had HIV. 6 in 7 knew they had the virus. For every 100 people with HIV in 2018, 65 received some HIV care, 50 were retained in care, and 56 were virally suppressed.
graphic of a bottle of pills

A person with HIV who takes HIV medicine as prescribed and gets and stays virally suppressed or undetectable can stay healthy and has effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to HIV-negative partners.

* Includes diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV infections.
† Had 2 viral load or CD4 tests at least 3 months apart in a year.
‡ Based on most recent viral load test.

Source: CDC. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States 2014–2018 pdf icon[PDF – 3 MB]. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2020;25(1).
Source: CDC. Selected national HIV prevention and care outcomes (slides) pdf icon[PDF – 2 MB].

Deaths

In 2018, there were 15,820 deaths among adults and adolescents with diagnosed HIV in the US. These deaths may be due to any cause.

a HIV diagnoses refers to the number of people who received an HIV diagnosis during a given time period, not when the people got HIV infection.
b Unless otherwise noted, the term United States (US) includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 6 dependent areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Palau, and the US Virgin Islands.
c The term male-to-male sexual contact is used in CDC surveillance systems. It indicates a behavior that transmits HIV infection, not how individuals self-identify in terms of their sexuality. This fact sheet uses the term gay and bisexual men.
d Includes infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).
e Heterosexual contact with a person known to have, or to be at high risk for, HIV.
f Does not include infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use (men who reported both risk factors).
g Black refers to people having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. African American is a term often used for Americans of African descent with ancestry in North America. Individuals may self-identify as either, both, or choose another identity altogether.
h Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
i  The US Census Bureau’s population estimates include the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
j  Regions defined by the US Census Bureau and used in CDC’s National HIV Surveillance System:
Northeast: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Midwest: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI
South: AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
West: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY

Additional Resources

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Page last reviewed: June 10, 2020
Content source: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention