Men are more affected by HIV and AIDS in the United States than women. Male adult or adolescents accounted for 3 out of 4 new HIV diagnoses and new AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. in 2009.
The HIV transmission route leading to the most AIDS diagnosis in 2009 was male-to-male sexual contact, followed by heterosexual contact and injection drug use.
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.
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CDC statistics show that in 2008, 73% of persons living with a diagnosis of HIV infection were male adults or adolescents.
Over half (63%) of adult and adolescent males living with an HIV diagnosis in 2008 became infected through male-to-male sexual contact, around 17% of those diagnosed were infected through injecting drug use and 12% through heterosexual contact.
The majority of female adult and adolescents living with an HIV diagnosis in 2008 were infected with the virus through heterosexual contact (73%). Most of the remaining females were infected through injecting drug use.
Of the 10,284 children living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in 2008, 9,038 were infected through mother-to-child transmission.
Estimated adult and adolescent new HIV diagnoses in 2009 by transmission route and gender
| Transmission route | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Male-to-male sexual contact | 24,132 | - |
| Injection drug use | 2,652 | 1,520 |
| Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use | 1,157 | - |
| Heterosexual contact | 4,551 | 8,706 |
| Other | 47 | 29 |
| Total* | 32,538 | 10,255 |
* 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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Adult and adolescent males accounted for three-quarters of people diagnosed with AIDS in 2009. Between 2006 and 2009 the annual rate of new AIDS diagnoses decreased slightly among both females and males.
Estimated adult and adolescent AIDS diagnoses in 2009 and cumulative diagnoses since the beginning of the epidemic through 2009, by transmission route and gender
| Transmission route | 2009 diagnoses | Cumulative diagnoses | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| Male-to-male sexual contact | 17,171 | - | 535,570 | - |
| Injection drug use | 3,207 | 1,982 | 173,351 | 90,102 |
| Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use | 1,608 | - | 73,006 | - |
| Heterosexual contact | 3,956 | 6,740 | 59,593 | 131,886 |
| Other | 159 | 157 | 96,977 | 7,185 |
| Total* | 26,102 | 8,879 |
882,074 |
229,173 |
* Because totals are calculated independently of the subpopulations, the values in each column may not sum exactly to the figure in the 'Total' row
See our AIDS statistics by race and age page for further information broken down by racial/ethnic group.
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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.
