In December 2007 UNAIDS released their 2007 AIDS update.  This update has revealed substantial changes in the global estimate of people living with HIV, a decrease from 39.5 million persons living with HIV in 2006 to 33.2 million in 2007. Whilst this reduction implies a decrease in global HIV estimates, the reduction itself is not actually due to a decrease in the number of people living with HIV but rather because of refinements in the way in which UNAIDS collects and reports its data.

70% of the reduction in the global estimate can be attributed to revised estimates for six countries:  India, Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.  The single greatest change in HIV estimates is India where the 2006 estimate of 5.7 million people living with HIV has now been revised to approximately 2.5 million. It is important to note that because of these revised estimates it is inaccurate to compare estimates from 2006 with those of 2007.

In 2007 there were believed to have been 2.5 million new HIV infections and 2.1 million AIDS-related deaths. Every day in 2007 over 6,800 people were infected with HIV. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

As in previous years sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region. It is home to 22.5 million adults and children infected with HIV.  68% of adults and 90% of children living with HIV in the world live in sub-Saharan Africa. 1.7 million new infections occurred in 2007 and the adult prevalence across this region is estimated at 5%. 76% of global AIDS deaths in 2007 were in sub-Saharan Africa and AIDS is the largest cause of mortality in the region.

Increasing Epidemics

New infections are increasing in the Russian Federation, although the epidemic appears to have peaked in 2001. East Asia has experienced a 20% increase in new infections since 2001. The proportion of women living with HIV has increased in Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe, many through their heterosexual partners who have acquired the virus through injecting drug use or from sex with other men.

Stabilised Epidemics

New infections in the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, North America and Western Europe have remained relatively stable over the previous years. The epidemic in the United Kingdom however is increasing; for further information please see the UK statistics.