CDC H IV/A IDS Facts

HIV/AIDS in the 

United States

Revised August 2008

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http://www.cdc.gov/hiv 

At the end of 2003,* an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 

persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS [1]. 

In 2006, 35,314 new cases of HIV/AIDS in adults, adolescents, 

and children were diagnosed in the 33 states with long-term, 

confidential name-based HIV reporting [2]. CDC has developed 

a new and innovative system designed to estimate the number 

of new HIV infections (or incidence) for the United States in 

a given year. Using this new technology, CDC estimates that 

56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 

2006 [3]. 

By Sex

In 2006, almost three quarters of HIV/AIDS diagnoses among 

adolescents and adults were for males.

Sex of adults and adolescents with HIV/AIDS 

diagnosed during 2006

No. = 35,180

Males

73%

Females

26%

Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.

By Transmission Category

In 2006, the largest estimated proportion of HIV/AIDS 

diagnoses among adults and adolescents were for men who 

have sex with men (MSM), followed by persons infected 

through high-risk heterosexual contact.

*The most recent year(s) for which these data are available.

Transmission categories of adults and adolescents 

with HIV/AIDS diagnosed during 2006

No. = 35,180

High-risk

heterosexual

contact

33%

Male-to-male 

sexual contact

50%

All Adults and Adolescents

Injection drug use

13%

Male-to-male sexual contact 

and injection drug use

3%

Other

1%

No. = 25,928

High-risk

heterosexual

contact

16%

Male-to-male

sexual contact

67%

Males

Injection drug use

12%

Male-to-male sexual contact 

and injection drug use

5%

Other

<1%

No. = 9,252

High-risk

heterosexual

contact

80%

Females

Injection drug use

19%

Other

1%

Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.
By Race/Ethnicity

Although blacks, or African Americans, 

made up only 13% of the population in the 

33 states, they accounted for almost half 

of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS 

diagnoses made during 2006.

CDC HIV/AIDS Facts HIV/AIDS in the United States

Race/ethnicity of persons 

(including children) with HIV/AIDS 

diagnosed during 2006

No. = 35,314

White

30%

Black

49%

Hispanic

18%

Asian/Pacific Islander

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

<1%

Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential 

name-based HIV reporting.

By Age

In 2006, persons aged 25–34 and persons 

aged 35–44 accounted for the largest 

proportions of newly diagnosed HIV/

AIDS cases.

Age of persons with HIV/AIDS 

diagnosed during 2006

25–34

26%

13–24

15%

35–44

32%

45–54

20%

55–64

6%

<13

<1%

≥65

2%

No = 35,314

Based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential 

name-based HIV reporting.

Trends in AIDS Diagnoses and Deaths

During the mid-to-late 1990s, advances in HIV treatments slowed the progression of 

HIV infection to AIDS and led to dramatic decreases in deaths among persons with AIDS 

living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In general, the trend in the estimated 

numbers of AIDS cases and deaths remained stable from 2002 through 2005. Estimates 

for 2006 suggest that the number of AIDS cases remained stable and that the number of 

deaths decreased; however, it is too early to determine whether this trend will hold. Better 

treatments have also led to an increase in the number of persons who are living with AIDS.

Estimated numbers of AIDS diagnoses, deaths, and persons living with 

AIDS, 2002–2006 

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Cumulative 

1981–2006

AIDS diagnoses 38,132 38,538 37,726 36,552 36,828 982,498

Deaths of persons 

with AIDS

16,948 16,690 16,395 16,268 14,016 545,805

Persons living with 

AIDS

350,419 372,267 393,598 413,882 436,693 NA

NA, not applicable (the values given for each year are cumulative).

Based on data for the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

REFERENCES

1. Glynn M, Rhodes P. Estimated 

HIV prevalence in the United 

States at the end of 2003. 

National HIV Prevention 

Conference; June 2005; Atlanta. 

Abstract T1-B1101. http://

www.aegis.com/conferences/

NHIVPC/2005/T1-B1101.html. 

2. CDC. HIV/AIDS Surveillance 

Report, 2006. Vol. 18. Atlanta: 

US Department of Health and 

Human Services, CDC; 2008. 

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv.

3. Hall HI, Ruiguang S, Rhodes 

P, et al. Estimation of HIV 

incidence in the United States. 

JAMA. 2008;300:520-529.

HIV/AIDS RESOURCES

CDC HIV/AIDS

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv

CDC HIV/AIDS resources

CDC-INFO

1-800-232-4636

Information about personal risk and 

where to get an HIV test

CDC National HIV Testing 

Resources

http://www.hivtest.org

Location of HIV testing sites

CDC National Prevention 

Information Network (NPIN)

1-800-458-5231

http://www.cdcnpin.org

CDC resources, technical 

assistance, and publications

AIDSinfo

1-800-448-0440

http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

Resources on HIV/AIDS treatment 

and clinical trials

For more information, including details regarding the 33 states with long-term confidential 

name-based HIV reporting, visit the CDC HIV/AIDS Statistics and Surveillance Web site at 

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance.