Canada HIV & AIDS Statistics Summary

Graphic Version of the Heading

HIV statistics

At the end of 2005 there were an estimated 58,000 people in Canada living with HIV - up from 50,000 in 2002. Of these, around 30% were unaware of their infection. It is estimated that between 2,300 and 4,500 new HIV infections occur in Canada each year, though many of these are not reported right away.1

From the start of testing in November 1985 until the end of June 2007, there have been 63,604 positive HIV tests reported to CIDPC (Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control). In 2006, there were 2,557 positive test results. This figure includes some persons not featured in the table below since they were under 15 years old; their gender was not reported; or they were reported as transgender.

Positive HIV test reports in adults (15 or over) by exposure category

Exposure category Male Female
2006 Cumulative total
until end June 2007
2006 Cumulative total
until end June 2007
Men who have sex with men (MSM) 504 17,711 - -
MSM and injection drug use 24 727 - -
Injection drug use 147 3,626 99 1,783
Blood/blood products 9 607 3 207
Heterosexual contact 219 2,967 211 2,525
Other 55 694 25 241
No identified risk 49 2,411 43 496
Risk not reported 799 19,617 316
4,592
Total 1,806 48,360 697 9,844

In the period 1985-2001, the MSM category accounted for 62% of adult HIV diagnoses for which exposure category was reported. The equivalent proportion was 39% in 2006. MSM remains the largest single exposure category.

In recent years around a quarter of new adult HIV diagnoses have been among women. Nearly two thirds of the women diagnosed in 2006 with reported exposure category were probably infected through heterosexual contact.

AIDS statistics

By the end of 2006, reports had been received of 20,669 AIDS diagnoses in Canada. This figure includes persons not featured in the table below since they were under 15 years old; their gender was not reported; or they were reported as transgender.

At least 15,556 people with AIDS have died.

AIDS cases in adults (15 or over) by exposure category

Exposure Category Male Female
2005 Cumulative total
until end 2006
2005 Cumulative total
until end 2006
Men who have sex with men (MSM) 58 13,274 - -
MSM and injection drug use 7 829 - -
Injection drug use 19 1,117 19 419
Blood/blood products 2 460 0 140
Heterosexual contact 41 1,759 17 1,136
Other 2 15 0 3
No identified risk 31 918 10 109
Risk not reported 92 188 25 59
Total 252 18,560 71 1,866

Among adult AIDS cases reported with known exposure category, the proportion accounted for by MSM fell from above three-quarters in the years prior to 1994, to 35% in 2005. Conversely, the heterosexual exposure category increased from 10% to 35% over the same period.

AIDS cases by province/territory

Province/territory 2005 Cumulative total
until end 2006
British Columbia 103 4,053
Yukon 0 8
Alberta 33 1,290
Northwest Territories 0 19
Nunavut 0 0
Saskatchewan 10 235
Manitoba 8 258
Ontario 164 8,112
Quebec - 6,098*
New Brunswick 6 168
Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia 5 337
Newfoundland and Labrador 0 91
Total 329 20,669

* Quebec AIDS data have not been available since June 2003

The provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec account for 85% of the population of Canada and for 95% of the nation's AIDS diagnoses.

Notes

The term "exposure category" refers to the most probable route of transmission of infection.

back to top

AddThis Social Bookmark Button What's this?

Sources:

  • Public Health Agency of Canada. HIV and AIDS in Canada. Surveillance report to June 30, 2007. Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, 2007
  • Public Health Agency of Canada. HIV and AIDS in Canada. Surveillance report to December 31, 2006. Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, 2007

References:

  1. Health Canada. HIV/AIDS EPI Updates, August 2006, Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Health Canada, 2006

Last updated February 07, 2008