A Decade of Progress in HIV Testing and Treatment

Advances in HIV testing and treatment have played a crucial role in the global effort to reduce new infections and bring down the number of AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS estimates that 31.6 million people diagnosed with HIV received antiretroviral therapy in 2024. That’s up from just 7.7 million in 2010 and equivalent to 77 percent of those living with HIV. 94 percent of those receiving regular antiretroviral treatment in 2024 had a suppressed viral load, meaning that their viral load is so low that it’s undetectable by standard tests, which reduces the risk of further transmission significantly.

To track the progress in testing and treatment, UNAIDS has implemented the so-called 95-95-95 target. It aims for 95 percent of people living with HIV to know their status, for 95 percent of those knowing their status to receive sustained treatment and 95 percent of those receiving treatment achieving viral suppression. Originally set for 2025, the target was postponed to 2030 by UNAIDS, as it became clear that it would be unattainable by 2025.

As our chart shows, the past decade has seen a lot of progress towards achieving the 95-95-95 goal, but there’s a lot of work to be done by 2030. In 2024, of all people living with HIV, 87 percent knew their status, 77 percent were receiving antiretroviral therapy and 73 percent had suppressed viral loads. That translates to 87-89-94 when applied to the 2030 target, illustrating that two of the three targets need significant improvement.