HIV-related deaths decreased globally over 12-year period — but increased in Russia and many neighboring countries

Global HIV morbidity and mortality rates decreased from 2010 to 2021, with new cases dropping by almost 22 percent and deaths declining by nearly 40 percent, according to The Lancet.

During this 12-year period, the spread of HIV slowed in African and South Asian countries, bringing down the global average. However, the situation worsened in Central and Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia. Russia, as well as Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, the Baltics, and other countries saw an increase in HIV mortality rates.

In 2010, there were 2.11 million new HIV infections and 1.19 million HIV-related deaths globally. By 2021, the number of new infections had dropped to 1.65 million, and deaths had fallen to 718,000.

In total, there were 40 million people living with HIV worldwide in 2021, compared to 29.5 million in 2010.