2.27m Children, Adolescents Living with HIV Globally

In 2025, approximately 2.27 million children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 19 were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) globally, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Despite efforts, significant challenges persist in diagnosing, treating, and suppressing the virus among younger individuals, who remain particularly vulnerable.

In 2025, an estimated 240,000 children and adolescents acquired HIV, while 74,000 died from AIDS-related causes. The most concerning demographic is children aged 0-14, with 1.26 million living with HIV, 93,000 acquiring the virus, and 61,000 succumbing to AIDS-related issues. This translates to about 255 new HIV infections and 167 deaths from AIDS-related causes daily.

UNICEF highlighted persistent gaps in HIV testing and treatment access as major hurdles. Globally, only 65% of children aged 0-14 diagnosed with HIV were aware of their status in 2025, compared to 89% of adults. Additionally, only 55% of HIV-positive children were on antiretroviral treatment, compared to 79% of adults. Viral suppression among children was even lower, with only 47% achieving it, compared to 79% of adults.

The publication of these estimates comes at a critical juncture for the global HIV response, as funding reductions and service disruptions could jeopardize recent progress. The UNAIDS Special Report for AIDS 2026, presented at the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, warned that declining international funding and service disruptions could disproportionately impact children and adolescents, who already face the largest gaps in diagnosis and treatment.

UNICEF emphasized the urgency of timely monitoring to ensure children and adolescents maintain access to essential HIV care.

Four key priorities for strengthening the global HIV response were identified: eliminating vertical HIV transmission, accelerating the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, closing treatment gaps through earlier diagnosis, improved pediatric treatment, and strengthened continuity of care, and preventing new HIV infections among adolescents, especially adolescent girls.

Expanding equitable access to effective prevention services and reproductive health care was also emphasized. UNICEF stressed the importance of strong national data systems and timely, high-quality information to identify emerging service gaps and allocate resources effectively. The agency stressed that such systems would enable governments and partners to understand changing needs and target limited resources to the most vulnerable children and communities.