Global and national HIV Estimates Launched

Today, the Ministry of Health and the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC), in collaboration with the United Nations Joint Team on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Zambia Statistics Agency, and the University of Zambia, officially launched the latest global and national HIV estimates at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. 

The event showcased critical epidemiological data on Zambia’s HIV epidemic, aimed at guiding future programming and informing the next phase of the national AIDS response. 

Speaking at the launch, the Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Elijiah Muchima, MP, commended the Ministry of Health, NAC, UNAIDS, PEPFAR, CDC, civil society, communities, and development partners for Zambia’s remarkable progress. The country has achieved the 95–95–95 HIV treatment targets for the general population, with:

• 98% of people living with HIV aware of their status, • 98% of those diagnosed receiving treatment, and • 97% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression. 

The Ministry of Health also highlighted Zambia's success in reducing new HIV infections from 63,000 in 2010 to 30,000 in 2025, and cutting AIDS-related deaths by 73%, from 26,000 to 15,000 over the same period. 

Globally, 2024 marked a turning point in the fight to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030—progress that was contingent on sustained political and financial commitment. However, recent reductions in international funding, particularly from long-standing donors such as the U.S. Government through PEPFAR, now risk reversing these gains. 

The newly released estimates reveal persistent gaps in Zambia’s HIV response:

• 30,000 people were newly infected with HIV. • 38% of new infections occurred among young people aged 15–24. • Adolescent girls and young women were three times more likely to acquire HIV than their male peers. 

• Despite progress on adult treatment targets, children are being left behind: an estimated 3,000 children aged 0–2 were newly infected through mother-to-child transmission, with a transmission rate of 6%, still above the global target of below 5%. 

The UNAIDS 2025 Global AIDS Update, titled AIDS: Crisis and the Power to Transform, warns that a historic funding crisis could unravel decades of progress. Projections show that without sustained funding, the world could face 6 million additional HIV infections and 4 million more AIDS-related deaths by 2029. 

Zambia has responded by increasing its domestic contribution to the AIDS response from 7% in 2022 to 10% in 2024, joining 25 other low- and middle-income countries scaling up national investments. However, the country faces significant challenges, including a US$367 million reduction in the 2025 PEPFAR budget and a US$21 million cut under the Global Fund grant reprioritization. With an estimated US$500 million annual funding need, Zambia is now rethinking its HIV programme design and financing architecture to sustain progress and reduce reliance on external funding. 

The Ministry of Health has taken proactive steps by defining a minimum package of HIV treatment and prevention services following the funding cuts. Additionally, Zambia has published the Zambia Sustainability Roadmap: Vision 2030 and Beyond, laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable AIDS response. The Permanent Secretary for Technical Services at Ministry of Health Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi also reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to the upcoming rollout of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that can prevent HIV infection with just two injections per year, offer a transformative potential to significantly reducing new HIV infections in the country. 

Globally, HIV treatment has averted 26.9 million deaths, and 4.4 million children have been protected from infection through prevention of mother-to-child transmission. As UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima stated during the global report launch in July 2025: 

“In a time of crisis, the world must choose transformation over retreat. Together, we can still end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030—if we act with urgency, unity, and unwavering commitment.” ABOUT UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

ABOUT UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Contact: Sarah Talon Sampieri, Programme Analyst, UNAIDS Zambia 

Talonsampieris@unaids.org