To date, 40.8 million people are living with HIV, and in 2024, there were 1.3 million new cases reported. Of these, 9.2 million are not receiving the necessary treatment.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that funding for health systems from international donors has decreased by 30-40% in 2025 compared to 2023, which has already led to significant operational problems.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima noted: "The financial crisis has shown how fragile our hard-won achievements were."She added: "Behind every number in this report are real people: infants and children who did not get tested for HIV at early stages; entire communities that suddenly lost access to services and support. We cannot leave them without help. We must overcome this crisis."
Preventive services have been hit hardest. There is a particularly sharp decline in access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications for HIV.
The reduction of prevention programs developed in collaboration with young women has deprived them of access to HIV prevention, mental health services, and assistance in cases of gender-based violence. In 2024, there were 570 new HIV cases reported daily among girls aged 15-24.
There are reports of mass closures of community-level organizations that played a key role in the fight against HIV: over 60% of women's initiatives have suspended their vital programs. Programs for men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and transgender individuals have also been severely affected.
The financial crisis is occurring against a backdrop of worsening human rights conditions, which particularly impacts marginalized groups.
Innovations are becoming increasingly important in the fight against HIV. New prevention methods, such as injections administered just twice a year, could prevent tens of thousands of new cases in high-prevalence regions.
In 2025, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the international organization UNITAID, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced joint efforts to ensure broad access to affordable versions of life-saving medications – in some cases costing as little as $40 per person per year.
Events in the second half of 2025 raise hopes for the restoration of international funding.
On the eve of World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, UNAIDS calls on world leaders to maintain funding in this area and invest in innovations, including accessible long-term prevention and treatment methods.
Byanyima emphasized: "Our decisions today shape the future. We can unite around a common goal – to end the AIDS epidemic. Millions of lives depend on what we decide today."Illustration on the main page: scientificamerican.com.
