They also offer an access route to training and through this to better jobs and higher incomes. It is estimated that every day 7,000 young people worldwide acquire the virus. This means that there are around 2.6 million new infections a year among young people, including 1.7 million in Africa and 700,000 in Asia and the Pacific. Young people account for at least 50 per cent of those who become infected after infancy and in some countries the figure exceeds 60 per cent. Over nine-tenths of the epidemic is now concentrated in developing countries.
Young women appear to be the most vulnerable group for both biological and socio-economic reasons.
AIDS imposes both direct and indirect costs on national economies. The cost of treating individuals infected with HIV and AIDS exceeds per capita GDP in a number of countries. AIDS also weakens economies indirectly. Resources allocated to combat AIDS may mean lower investments in education and primary health care, with consequences for future economic growth. By shortening lifespans, AIDS also lowers the returns to public investment in both health and education.