Canada HIV Statistics Summary

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At the end of 2011 there were an estimated 71,300 people in Canada living with HIV - up from 57,000 in 2005.¹ Of these, around 25% were unaware of their infection. It is estimated that about 3,175 new HIV infections occured in Canada in 2011, which is roughly the same as the figure for 2008.

From the start of testing in November 1985 until the end of December 2011, there have been 74,174 positive HIV tests reported to PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada). In 2011, there were 2,221 positive test results reported to PHAC (meaning 954 cases of the 3,175 new HIV infections were not reported to PHAC). This figure includes some persons not featured in the table below since they were under 15 years old; their gender was not reported; or they were reported as transgender.²

Positive HIV test reports in adults (15 or over) by exposure category

In the period 1985-2001, the men having sex with men category accounted for 62% of adult HIV diagnoses for which exposure category was reported. The equivalent proportion was 48.6% in 2011.³ Men who have sex with men (MSM) remains the largest single exposure category.

In recent years around a quarter of new adult HIV diagnoses have been among women. Although most exposure to HIV was from heterosexual sex, injecting drug use accounted for over 29.9% of infections in women in 2011.⁴

back to top AIDS statistics

By the end of 2011, reports had been received of 22,322 AIDS diagnoses in Canada, 151 of which occurred in 2011. This figure includes persons not featured in the table below since they were under 15 years old; their gender was not reported; or they were reported as transgender.⁵

At least 13,864 people with AIDS have died since the epidemic began.

AIDS cases in adults (15 or over) by exposure category

In 2011, the largest proportion of adult male AIDS cases reported with known exposure category is still MSM, at 41.2%. This proportion has fallen from above three-quarters in the years prior to 1994. The IDU category has also risen to 23.5%. Among adult females, the majority of AIDS cases have a reported transmission route of heterosexual contact, at 57.1%⁶

AIDS cases by province/territory

* Quebec AIDS data have not been available since June 2003.

* Newfoundland and Labrador no longer consider AIDS a reportable disease as of 2009.

The provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan account for around 85% of the population of Canada and for 95% of the nation's AIDS diagnoses.

Notes

The term "exposure category" refers to the most probable route of transmission of infection.

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Sources back to top

• Public Health Agency of Canada. Estimates of HIV Prevalence and incidence in Canada, 2008. Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008. - 2008
• Public Health Agency of Canada. HIV and AIDS in Canada. Surveillance Report to December 31, 2009. Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010. - 2010

References back to top

1. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'At A Glance - HIV and AIDS in Canada: Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'
2. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'HIV and AIDS in Canada, Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'
3. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'At A Glance - HIV and AIDS in Canada: Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'
4. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'At a Glance - HIV and AIDS in Canada: Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'
5. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'HIV and AIDS in Canada, Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'
6. Public Health Agency of Canada (2012) 'HIV and AIDS in Canada, Surveillance Report to December 31, 2011'