Probability of Being Diagnosed with HIV in the US
~1 in 100
Lifetime probability in US
About 1 in 100 Americans will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime, though risk varies enormously by demographic group.
The CDC estimates that approximately 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and about 30,000-35,000 new infections occur each year. The estimated lifetime risk of HIV diagnosis is approximately 1 in 100 for the general population, but this varies dramatically by demographic group.
Gay and bisexual men face the highest risk, with an estimated 1 in 6 lifetime risk. Among racial/ethnic groups, Black Americans have a lifetime risk of about 1 in 20, Hispanic Americans about 1 in 48, and white Americans about 1 in 132. Injection drug use and having multiple sexual partners also significantly increase risk.
Advances in treatment have transformed HIV from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition. People with HIV who take antiretroviral therapy consistently can achieve an undetectable viral load, meaning they cannot transmit the virus sexually. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.
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