But for the first time since 1981, when the disease first emerged, the majority of new HIV infections occurred outside of sub-Saharan Africa. It’s good news that sub-Saharan Africa, the region historically most affected by HIV, has dramatically reduced the number of people newly infected with HIV. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have made huge gains in improving awareness of HIV and increasing access to HIV testing and treatment. Notably, in sub-Saharan Africa, 62 percent of new HIV infections in 2023 were among girls and women, whereas the majority of new HIV infections in the rest of the world is among males. HIV funding is dwindlingThe main driver of HIV progress, of course, is sustained investment.
