In 2022, women accounted for 43% of the 630,000 AIDS-related deaths worldwide, even as global counts of new infections and diagnoses often look more uneven by sex. At the same time, adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 made up 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents, while men still carry higher overall HIV-related mortality. This post breaks down how those contrasts play out across regions, from diagnosis timing to treatment and viral suppression.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 630,000 AIDS-related deaths, with women accounting for 43% globally
- In sub-Saharan Africa, women mortality rate from HIV is 1.2 times higher than men due to late diagnosis
- In the US, HIV mortality among women decreased 9% from 2020-2021
- Globally, 1.3 million women became newly infected with HIV in 2022
- In sub-Saharan Africa, new HIV infections among young women aged 15-24 outnumbered those among young men by a factor of 4.2 in 2022
- In Asia and the Pacific, 41% of new HIV infections in 2022 were among women
- In 2022, globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV, with women and girls accounting for 53% of adults aged 15+
- In sub-Saharan Africa, women aged 15-24 are three times more likely to acquire HIV than men of the same age
- In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, men represent 82% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022
- In 2023, 86% of people living with HIV knew their status, with women more likely to test at 92% vs 80% for men
- In sub-Saharan Africa, only 72% of women living with HIV know their status compared to 65% of men
- In the US, women are diagnosed later than men, with 17% vs 13% at stage 3 (AIDS)
- In 2022, 77% of people living with HIV were on ART, with 84% women vs 70% men globally
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 89% of women on ART vs 82% men
- In the US, 66% of women living with HIV are virally suppressed vs 64% men
Across regions, women and girls face higher HIV burdens yet better testing, treatment, and viral suppression gaps persist.
Related reading
01 · Category
Mortality By Gender19 stats
01
In 2022, 630,000 AIDS-related deaths, with women accounting for 43% globally
02
In sub-Saharan Africa, women mortality rate from HIV is 1.2 times higher than men due to late diagnosis
03
In the US, HIV mortality among women decreased 9% from 2020-2021
04
Globally, men have higher HIV-related mortality (380,000 vs 250,000 women)
05
In Eastern Europe, men account for 85% of AIDS deaths
06
In India, 70% of HIV deaths are men
07
In South Africa, women 55% of AIDS deaths despite higher prevalence
08
In Brazil, mortality rate 4.5 per 100,000 men vs 2.8 women
09
Globally, TB/HIV co-infection deaths 70% in men
10
In Kenya, maternal HIV deaths 15% of total women mortality
11
In Ukraine, 80% HIV deaths among men who inject drugs
12
In Nigeria, AIDS mortality 60% men
13
In Thailand, 75% deaths MSM and male sex workers
14
In the UK, HIV deaths 75% men
15
In Mozambique, women 48% of deaths
16
Globally, survival after ART initiation 5 years 85% women vs 80% men
17
In Zimbabwe, male mortality 1.5 times female post-diagnosis
18
In Russia, excess mortality men 90%
19
In Eswatini, equal gender distribution in recent deaths due to high treatment
Interpretation
Mortality By Gender Interpretation
Under the Mortality By Gender category, HIV related mortality remains consistently higher among men, with 380,000 deaths versus 250,000 for women globally and strikingly high male shares such as 85% of AIDS deaths in Eastern Europe and 70% in India.
02 · Category
New Infections By Gender20 stats
01
Globally, 1.3 million women became newly infected with HIV in 2022
02
In sub-Saharan Africa, new HIV infections among young women aged 15-24 outnumbered those among young men by a factor of 4.2 in 2022
03
In Asia and the Pacific, 41% of new HIV infections in 2022 were among women
04
In the US, men accounted for 80% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021, totaling 29,438 cases
05
In Eastern Africa, adolescent girls represent 22% of all new adult HIV infections despite being only 10% of the population
06
In Brazil, 65% of new HIV cases in 2022 were among men
07
In Ukraine, men comprise 85% of new HIV diagnoses due to injecting drug use
08
Globally, key populations including men who have sex with men account for 35% of new HIV infections
09
In Kenya, women aged 15-24 have an HIV incidence rate 5.5 times higher than men of the same age
10
In Russia, 90% of new HIV infections are among men, primarily through heterosexual transmission and drug use
11
In 2022, 1.5 million people acquired HIV globally, with gender disparities varying by region
12
In Nigeria, 70% of new infections among young people are in girls
13
In Thailand, men who have sex with men represent 40% of new infections
14
In Europe, 70% of new diagnoses are in men
15
In Zimbabwe, young women have 3 times higher incidence than young men
16
In the UK, 82% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022 were in men
17
In Mozambique, girls aged 15-19 have twice the HIV prevalence of boys
18
Globally, 160,000 children newly infected, mostly girls due to vertical transmission risks
19
In Eswatini, women account for 62% of new infections
20
In 2022, men who have sex with men had 28 times higher HIV incidence than general adult population
Interpretation
New Infections By Gender Interpretation
Across regions, the gender pattern in new HIV infections is stark, with women accounting for 1.3 million new infections globally in 2022 and in Asia and the Pacific 41% of new infections occurring among women while in the US men made up 80% of new diagnoses in 2021.
03 · Category
Prevalence By Gender10 stats
01
In 2022, globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV, with women and girls accounting for 53% of adults aged 15+
02
In sub-Saharan Africa, women aged 15-24 are three times more likely to acquire HIV than men of the same age
03
In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, men represent 82% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022
04
Globally, adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 account for 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents
05
In Western and Central Africa, 64% of people living with HIV are women
06
In South Asia, men account for 80% of people living with HIV
07
In Latin America, transgender women have an HIV prevalence of 20-30% in some urban areas
08
In the United States, Black women represent 39% of new HIV diagnoses among women in 2021
09
In India, the HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is 4.7%
10
In South Africa, women comprise 61% of people living with HIV aged 15+
Interpretation
Prevalence By Gender Interpretation
Globally, women and girls make up 53% of adults aged 15+ living with HIV, and in several regions this gender gap is even sharper, such as 64% of people living with HIV in Western and Central Africa being women and South Asia having men who account for 80% of people living with HIV.
More related reading
04 · Category
Testing And Diagnosis By Gender20 stats
01
In 2023, 86% of people living with HIV knew their status, with women more likely to test at 92% vs 80% for men
02
In sub-Saharan Africa, only 72% of women living with HIV know their status compared to 65% of men
03
In the US, women are diagnosed later than men, with 17% vs 13% at stage 3 (AIDS)
04
Globally, pregnant women testing coverage reached 88% in 2022
05
In Eastern Europe, men are 50% less likely to test for HIV than women
06
In India, only 75% of men who have sex with men have ever tested for HIV
07
In South Africa, 95% of antenatal clinic attendees are tested, but only 70% of men at primary care
08
In Brazil, HIV testing among transgender women is 85%, higher than general population due to targeted programs
09
Globally, men are 20% less likely to know their HIV status than women
10
In Kenya, female sex workers have 90% testing coverage, while men lag at 65%
11
In Ukraine, only 55% of men who inject drugs have tested in the past year
12
In the EU/EEA, 91% of diagnosed women are linked to care vs 89% men
13
In Nigeria, 80% of women know status vs 60% men
14
In Thailand, MSM testing rates are 85%, higher than heterosexual men at 50%
15
In the UK, Black African women test at higher rates than Black Caribbean men
16
In Mozambique, partner testing for women is 45%, men 30%
17
Globally, self-testing kits increased male testing by 15% in pilots
18
In Zimbabwe, 92% of pregnant women tested vs 68% adult men
19
In Russia, testing coverage among men is 50%, women 70%
20
In Eswatini, 89% women know status vs 78% men
Interpretation
Testing And Diagnosis By Gender Interpretation
Across regions, women consistently show higher HIV testing and diagnosis rates than men, such as 92% of women knowing their status in 2023 versus 80% of men and 50% lower testing among men in Eastern Europe, underscoring a persistent gender gap in testing and diagnosis.
05 · Category
Treatment And Art By Gender19 stats
01
In 2022, 77% of people living with HIV were on ART, with 84% women vs 70% men globally
02
In sub-Saharan Africa, 89% of women on ART vs 82% men
03
In the US, 66% of women living with HIV are virally suppressed vs 64% men
04
Globally, treatment coverage for women is 85%, men 69%
05
In Eastern Europe, only 60% of men on ART vs 75% women
06
In India, 75% of women on ART retention at 12 months vs 70% men
07
In South Africa, viral suppression 73% women, 65% men
08
In Brazil, 90% linkage to care for women vs 85% men
09
Globally, children under 15 have 65% ART coverage, girls slightly higher than boys
10
In Kenya, 98% retention for pregnant women on ART
11
In Ukraine, men retention on ART 55% vs 70% women
12
In Nigeria, 82% women virally suppressed vs 70% men
13
In Thailand, MSM ART coverage 88%, higher than general men
14
In the UK, 97% diagnosed on ART, equal for genders
15
In Mozambique, women 92% on ART vs 80% men
16
Globally, DREAMS program increased ART initiation in AGYW by 25%
17
In Zimbabwe, 85% women suppressed vs 75% men
18
In Russia, ART coverage 50% men vs 65% women
19
In Eswatini, 90% women on treatment vs 82% men
Interpretation
Treatment And Art By Gender Interpretation
Across regions, women are consistently more likely than men to be reached and retained on ART, for example 84% of women vs 70% of men were on ART globally in 2022 and women also lead in viral suppression in the US at 66% vs 64%.
report visual · Breakdown
Gender disparities in HIV outcomes
Across regions, women and men experience different HIV mortality, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes—often with women higher in testing and treatment access, but mixed patterns in deaths and infection burden.
9%
In the US, HIV mortality among women decreased 9% from 2020-2021
91%
In the EU/EEA, 91% of diagnosed women are linked to care vs 89% men
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Hiv Gender Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hiv-gender-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Hiv Gender Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hiv-gender-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Hiv Gender Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hiv-gender-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level