United States Statistics by State and City

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over 1 million adults and adolescents are living with HIV in the USA, including those not yet diagnosed, and those who have already progressed to AIDS.¹ At the end of 2008, an estimated 682,668 people were living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 40 states and 5 U.S. dependent areas with confidential name-based reporting.

back to top HIV and AIDS statistics by state

An estimated 490,696 people were living with AIDS in America in 2008. The highest numbers were in New York state, California, Florida and Texas. Among the 50 states, the lowest numbers were in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

In 2007, the District of Columbia reported a far higher rate of AIDS diagnoses than any other area (though the rate in the wider Washington area was surpassed by other metropolitan areas). A 2009 local government report found the capital city's HIV prevalence was 3%, including figures as high as 7.2% for 40-49 year olds, and 6.5% for black males.²

Estimated number of adults and adolescents living with an AIDS diagnosis or a diagnosis of HIV infection at the end of 2008, and reported AIDS diagnosis rates in 2009, by state and dependent area

*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.

back to top AIDS statistics by metropolitan statistical area of residence

Over one million cases of AIDS have been reported in the U.S. since the beginning of the epidemic, and of those with known residence, 85% were reported in major metropolitan areas (population ≥ 500,000).

New York has accounted for over a fifth of cumulative cases from major metropolitan areas, followed by Los Angeles (65,947) and Miami (64,573) also providing substantial numbers.

In 2009, the highest rates of new AIDS diagnoses were in Miami (37.2 per 100,000 people), Baton Rouge (30.6), Jacksonville (29.1) and New York (27.0).

AIDS diagnoses in 2009 and cumulative diagnoses (from the beginning of the epidemic through 2009) by USA metropolitan area of residence

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.

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back to top Notes

• The latest statistics on HIV and AIDS in the USA were published in February 2011 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.
• The statistics by metropolitan statistical area of residence table contains data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.

back to top Sources

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

back to top References

1. CDC 'HIV in the United States', July 2010
2. District of Columbia Department of Health (2009), 'District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008'

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References back to top

1. CDC 'HIV in the United States', July 2010
2. District of Columbia Department of Health (2009), 'District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008'

Notes

• The latest statistics on HIV and AIDS in the USA were published in February 2011 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.
• The statistics by metropolitan statistical area of residence table contains data for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.