Fast Facts: HIV in the US by Race and Ethnicity

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, 2021

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Learn more about estimated new HIV infections in the US.

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

Estimated HIV infections in the US by race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about estimated HIV infections in the US by race and ethnicity.

_{* Data not available for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

_{† 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. 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, 2021

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

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

_{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 by race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about differences in HIV diagnoses in the US 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.}

HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas by race and ethnicity and sex, 2021*†

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Learn more about differences in HIV diagnoses by race and ethnicity and sex.

_{* Among people aged 13 and older.}

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

_{‡ 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 7% overall in the US and dependent areas. But trends varied for different racial and ethnic groups.

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

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Learn more about trends in HIV diagnoses 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.}

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 knowledge of HIV status among people with HIV in the US.

_{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 race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about racial and ethnic differences related to knowledge of HIV status.

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

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.

Sexual behaviors among people with diagnosed HIV in the US by race and ethnicity, 2020^*†

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Learn more about differences in sexual behaviors among people with diagnosed HIV by race and ethnicity.

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

_{† Data not available for Asian, Multiracial, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

_{‡ Had sex while not virally suppressed with a partner whose HIV status was negative or unknown, a condom was not used, and the partner was not taking PrEP.}

_{** 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. 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.}

Injection behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) in 23 US cities by race and ethnicity, 2018*

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Learn more about racial and ethnic differences in injection behaviors among PWID without HIV.

_{* Among PWID without HIV aged 18 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. HIV infection risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among persons who inject drugs—National HIV Behavioral Surveillance: injection drug use, 23 U.S. Cities, 2018. HIV Surveillance Special Report 2020;24.}

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. Due to a formula error that affects a subset of race and ethnicity data, all race and ethnicity data have been removed from this site. 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.

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 in the US 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 race and ethnicity, 2021*

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Learn more about racial and ethnic differences in HIV care and viral suppression among people with diagnosed HIV.

_{* 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.}

_{** 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).}

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.

Median HIV stigma score among people with diagnosed HIV in the US by race and ethnicity, 2020*†

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Learn more about HIV stigma by race and ethnicity.

_{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 with HIV aged 18 and older.}

_{† Data not available for Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

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

_{** 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.}

_{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 by race and ethnicity, 2020* †

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Learn about racial and ethnic differences in self-rated health among people with HIV.

_{* Among people aged 18 and older.}

_{† Data not available for Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

_{‡ 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.}

_{** 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. 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 by race and ethnicity, 2020* †‡

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Learn about racial and ethnic differences among people with HIV who reported needing, but not receiving, mental health services.

_{* Among people aged 18 and older.}

_{† Data not available for Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

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

_{** 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. 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 by race and ethnicity, 2020*†

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Learn about racial and ethnic differences in food insecurity, unemployment, and unstable housing among people with diagnosed HIV in the US.

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

_{† Data not available for Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander people.}

_{‡ 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. 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.}