European HIV and AIDS Statistics

back to top Introduction

According to UNAIDS estimates, around 2.3 million people were living with HIV in the European region at the end of 2010.1 Estimated adult HIV prevalence varies from below 0.1% in parts of Central Europe to above 1% in parts of the former Soviet Union.2

The three main tables in this page have been constructed from estimates from the 2009 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Unless stated otherwise, all other data (including the graphs) is from the 2009 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, published in 2010.

As a large number of HIV infections, AIDS cases, and AIDS deaths are never reported at a national level, the figures from the ECDC/WHO report understate the true extent of the epidemic. In addition, the reliability of reporting systems varies between countries, making comparisons difficult.

back to top Regional summary

As the graph below shows, rates of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection vary widely between Eastern, Central and Western Europe.

Newly diagnosed HIV cases per million population in the WHO European Region by year notification

Eastern Europe has seen a steady increase in HIV infections since 2000, which is largely due to an increase in heterosexually acquired infections and infections among injecting drug users.

The graph below shows the number of AIDS diagnoses per 100,000 population in each region.

Number of diagnosed AIDS cases per million Population in the WHO European Region by year of diagnosis, 2000 - 2006

The number of AIDS cases per 100,000 has declined slightly in Western and Central Europe. This is largely a result of the widespread availability of antiretroviral drugs in these regions. The statistics for Eastern Europe are distorted due to substantial underreporting from Ukraine.

back to top Western Europe

Western European
country 		People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 Adult prevalence % 2009 Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009
 AIDS-related deaths 2009
Austria 15,000 0.3 4,600 <100
Belgium 14,000 0.2 4,400 <100
Denmark 5,300 0.2 1,400 <100
Finland 2,600 0.1 <1,000 <100
France 150,000 0.4 48,000 1,700
Germany 67,000 0.1 12,000 <1,000
Greece 8,800 0.1 2,700 <500
Iceland <1,000 0.3 <200 <100
Ireland 6,900 0.2 2,000 <100
Israel 7,500 0.2 2,200 <100
Italy 140,000 0.3 48,000 <1,000
Luxembourg <1,000 0.3 <500 <100
Malta <500 0.1 <100 <100
Netherlands 22,000 0.2 6,900 <100
Norway 4,000 0.1 <1,200 <100
Portugal 42,000 0.6 13,000 <500
Spain 130,000 0.4 32,000 1,600
Sweden 8,100 0.1 2,500 <100
Switzerland 18,000 0.4 5,700 <100
United Kingdom 85,000 0.2 26,000 <1,000

HIV statistics

A cumulative total of 349,077 HIV infections had been diagnosed in Western Europe by the end of 2009. This considerably understates the true figure because not all HIV infections have been diagnosed or reported. This is partly because many people do not know that they are infected. In addition, the three countries with the most extensive epidemics either do not report from all regions (Italy and Spain) or started reporting only in 2003 (France and Spain). National HIV reporting started at different dates in different countries, without systematic retrospective reporting of infections diagnosed in previous years.

Of the reported 24,703 people diagnosed with HIV in Western Europe in 2009:

  • 40% probably acquired HIV through heterosexual contact;
  • 37% became infected through male-to-male sexual contact;
  • 4% became infected through injecting drug use;
  • 28% were female;
  • and 10% were 15 to 24 years old.

The number of reported HIV diagnoses has increased from 12,748 in 2000 to 24,703 in 2009. This is an increase from 5.5 cases per 100,000 population to 6.7. Countries with the highest rates in 2009 were the United Kingdom (10.7), Belgium (10.3) and Portugal (9.9).

Data on the original country in which infection occurred is available for 17 countries. According to these data, 39% of infections reported in 2009 originated from the country of report and 18% were acquired in sub-Saharan Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for almost 5% and other countries in Western Europe accounted for 4%. The origin was undetermined for over a quarter of cases.

AIDS statistics

In 2009 there were 4,361 diagnosed cases of AIDS reported in Western European countries. The highest rates of AIDS diagnoses were in Portugal (2.8 per 100,000 population), Spain (2.3) and Switzerland (1.7).

After falling dramatically in the late 1990s (following the introduction and widespread use of combination antiretroviral treatment), AIDS incidence has declined steadily. The number of AIDS diagnoses in 2009 was 58% lower than that for 2000.

AIDS mortality has also decreased as antiretroviral therapy has become widely available. Far fewer people died from AIDS in 2009 (1,083) than in 2004 (3,229).

Find out more about HIV and AIDS in Western and Central Europe.

back to top Central Europe

Central European
country 		People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 Adult prevalence % 2009 Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009 AIDS-related deaths 2009
Bulgaria 3,800 0.1 1,100 <200
Croatia <1,000 <0.1 <500 <100
Czech Republic 2,000 <0.1 <1,000 <100
Hungary 3,000 <0.1 <1,000 <200
Poland 27,000 0.1 8,200 <200
Romania 16,000 0.1 4,700 <1,200
Serbia 4,900 0.1 1,200 <200
Slovakia <500 <0.1 <100 <100
Slovenia <1,000 <0.1 <200 <100
Turkey 4,600 <0.1 1,400 <200

HIV statistics

There were a total of 1,612 HIV diagnoses in Central Europe in 2009. Of these diagnoses, 17% were in individuals aged 15 to 24 years old and 20% were female. Of those infections where the transmission route was known:

  • 44% were exposed through male-to-male sexual contact;
  • 34% were acquired through heterosexual contact;
  • and 9% were due to injecting drug use.

AIDS statistics

In 2009, 404 cases of AIDS were reported, compared to 970 in 2000. This decrease reflects the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy in the region. The highest rates of AIDS cases were reported in Montenegro and Albania (1 per 100,000 population in each country).

In 2009 there were a reported 138 AIDS deaths in Central Europe, compared to 359 in 2004.

back to top Eastern Europe

Eastern European
country 		People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 Adult prevalence % 2009 Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009 AIDS-related deaths 2009
Armenia 1,900 0.1 <1,000 <100
Azerbaijan 3,600 0.1 2,100 <200
Belarus 17,000 0.3 8,300 <1,000
Estonia 9,900 1.2 3,000 <500
Georgia 3,500 0.1 1,500 <100
Kazakhstan 13,000 0.1 7,700 <500
Kyrgyzstan 9,800 0.3 2,800 <500
Latvia 8,600 0.7 2,600 <1,000
Lithuania 1,200 0.1 <500 <100
Republic of Moldova 12,000 0.4 5,100 <1,000
Russian Federation 980,000 1.0 480,000 …
Tajikistan 9,100 0.2 2,700 <500
Ukraine 350,000 1.1 170,000 24,000
Uzbekistan 28,000 0.1 8,000 <500

HIV statistics

In 2009 in Eastern Europe there were a reported 27,112 newly diagnosed HIV infections. However, this number does not include figures from the Russian Federation, where almost 58,500 new HIV cases were reported in 2009. The Ukraine has the second highest number of annual infections; in 2009 16,241 were reported.

Of the new HIV diagnoses in Eastern European countries in 2009 (where data on transmission routes were available):

  • 51% were acquired through heterosexual transmission;
  • 44% resulted from injecting drug use;
  • 0.8% were acquired through male-to-male sexual contact;
  • 14% were aged 15-24 years;
  • and 41% were female.

In addition to the Russian Federation and Ukraine, high rates of HIV were reported in Estonia (30.7 per 100,000 population) and the Republic of Moldova (19.7 per 100,000 population). Rates of newly diagnosed HIV infection have generally declined in Estonia and Latvia, but in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan rates have significantly increased since 2003/4.

AIDS statistics

A total of 1,803 AIDS diagnoses were reported in 2009 in Eastern Europe. However, this figure significantly underestimates the actual number, due to reporting delays and incomplete data from a number of countries (including the Russian Federation). In fact, UNAIDS estimated that in the same year, some 76,000 people died of AIDS in this region.3 Nearly all countries providing data since 2000 have seen an increase in the number of AIDS diagnoses.