United States Statistics by Race and Age

Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino communities have been disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS in America.

In 2009 the highest percentage of new HIV diagnoses were among those aged 40-44 years.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish HIV statistics for 40 states and 5 dependent areas with confidential name-based HIV infection reporting. AIDS statistics include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the 5 dependent areas.

back to top HIV and AIDS statistics by race/ethnicity

Blacks/African Americans accounted for half of all new HIV diagnoses and just under half of new AIDS diagnoses in 2009. Of the total number of people living with an HIV diagnosis in 2008 in the 40 U.S. states and 5 dependent areas, 46% were black/African American; 31.6% white; 20% Hispanic/Latino; 1.3% multiple races; 0.6% Asian; 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native; and 0.04% Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

Among men diagnosed with AIDS in 2009, 56% of black/African American men, 65% of Hispanic/Latino men and 79% of white men became infected with HIV through male-to-male sexual contact. Among women diagnosed with AIDS in 2009, 78% of black/African American women, 75% of Hispanic/Latino women and 68% of white women became infected through heterosexual contact.

Estimated new adult and adolescent HIV and AIDS diagnoses in 2009, by race/ethnicity

* Values in each column may not sum to the column total, as the column totals for estimated numbers were calculated independently of the values for the subpopulations.

Estimated HIV diagnoses by race/ethnicity and year

Estimated AIDS diagnoses by race/ethnicity and year

* Includes all years from the beginning of the epidemic through 2009.

Estimated HIV diagnoses in 2009 by race/ethnicity

Estimated AIDS diagnoses in 2009 by race/ethnicity

Estimated adult and adolescent males living with an AIDS diagnosis in 2008 by race/ethnicity and exposure category

* Because totals are calculated independently of the subpopulations, the values in each column may not sum exactly to the figure in the 'Total' column. **Includes persons of unknown race/ethnicity.

Estimated adult and adolescent females living with an AIDS diagnosis in 2008 by race/ethnicity and exposure category

* Because totals are calculated independently of the subpopulations, the values in each column may not sum exactly to the figure in the 'Total' column. **Includes persons of unknown race/ethnicity.

See our AIDS statistics by transmission route and gender for further information.

back to top HIV and AIDS statistics by age

More than half a million people diagnosed with AIDS have died in the USA. Around two-thirds of these people did not live to the age of 45.

In 2009 the age group 20-24 accounted for the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses, at 36.7 per 100,000 population.

Between 2006 and 2009 the rates of annual AIDS diagnoses decreased among those aged 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and 60-64. The rates increased among those aged 15-19 and 20-24.

HIV diagnoses by age, 2006-2009

AIDS diagnoses by age 2006-2009 and deaths among those living with AIDS in 2008

* From the beginning of the epidemic through 2007. ** Because totals are calculated independently of the subpopulations, the values in each column may not sum exactly to the figure in the 'Total' row.

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Source back to top

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) 'Diagnoses of HIV infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2009' Volume 21 - 2011

Notes

• The latest statistics on HIV and AIDS in the USA were published in June 2010 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• In order to make better use of the data collected, the CDC have made a number of changes from previous reports, including replacing the older definition 'HIV/AIDS' with 'diagnosis of HIV infection'. 'Summary of Changes to the National HIV Surveillance Report' contains more information.
• AIDS statistics include data from 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 dependent U.S. areas. HIV statistics are based on data from only 40 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas. Although all 50 states have now implemented confidential name-based HIV infection reporting, only 40 states have been doing so long enough for the CDC to apply statistical adjustments. The HIV Surveillance Report for 2012 (published in 2014) will be the first time HIV data from all 50 states will be included.
• States and areas that use confidential name-based HIV infection reporting take personal details after diagnosis of HIV infection. When this data is submitted to the CDC all personal identifying information is removed.
• There is often a delay between the time of diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, or the time of death, and the time at which the event is reported. For this reason the CDC estimates the number of people living with HIV or AIDS by adjusting for reporting delays. No adjustment is made for incomplete reporting.
• The term 'living with AIDS' includes every living person who has ever received an AIDS diagnosis, regardless of their current state of health. The term 'living with a diagnosis of HIV infection' includes every living person with a diagnosis of HIV infection regardless of stage of disease at diagnosis.
• On this page 'adults and adolescents' are defined as persons aged 13 years or more. The term 'transmission route' refers to the most probable route of transmission of HIV infection. The term 'male-to-male sexual contact' includes gay men, bisexual men and some men who consider themselves to be neither gay nor bisexual. The 'heterosexual contact' category comprises persons who report specific heterosexual contact with a person with, or at high risk for, HIV infection (e.g., an injection drug user). This does not include adults and adolescents born in, or who had sex with someone born in, a country where heterosexual transmission was believed to be the main mode of HIV transmission, unless they meet the criteria stated in the previous sentence.