Australia HIV diagnosis rates drop 25% over a decade

New data from the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney indicates that HIV diagnosis rates in Australia have decreased by 25 per cent over the last decade. In 2025, the rate was three per 100,000 Australians, compared to one in four per 100,000 ten years ago.

This decline suggests Australia has met the global 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95 per cent of people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95 per cent of those diagnosed to receive treatment, and 95 per cent of those receiving treatment to achieve viral suppression. These figures place the nation on track toward the international goal of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

Despite the overall decline, significant disparities persist among First Nations communities. The rate of HIV diagnoses is 1.9 times higher among First Nations people, with a rate of 3.9 per 100,000 compared to 2.1 per 100,000 for non-Indigenous populations. Experts note that while increased testing through Aboriginal health services may contribute to higher recorded rates, remote communities still face challenges regarding access to health services and regular screening.