back to top Introduction
According to UNAIDS estimates, around 2.3 million people were living with HIV in the European region at the end of 2010.1 Estimated adult HIV prevalence varies from below 0.1% in parts of Central Europe to above 1% in parts of Eastern Europe.2
The three main tables in this page have been constructed from estimates from the 2010 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. Unless stated otherwise, all other data (including the graphs) is from the HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Europe 2010 Report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, published in 2011.
As a large number of HIV infections, AIDS cases, and AIDS deaths are never reported at a national level, the figures from the ECDC/WHO report understate the true extent of the epidemic. In addition, the reliability of reporting systems varies between countries, making comparisons difficult.
back to top Regional summary
As the graph below shows, rates of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection vary widely between Eastern, Central and Western Europe.
Eastern Europe has seen a steady increase in HIV infections since 2000, which is largely due to an increase in heterosexually acquired infections and infections among injecting drug users.
The graph below shows the number of AIDS diagnoses per 100,000 population in each region.
The number of AIDS cases per 100,000 has continued to decline in Western Europe with the number stabilising in Central Europe. This is largely a result of the widespread availability of antiretroviral drugs in these regions. The statistics for Eastern Europe are distorted, as data for reported AIDS diagnosis cases in Russia was not included in the 2010 report.
back to top Western Europe
Western European country |
People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 | Adult prevalence % 2009 |
Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009 |
AIDS-related deaths 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | 15,000 | 0.3 | 4,600 | <100 |
Belgium | 14,000 | 0.2 | 4,400 | <100 |
Denmark | 5,300 | 0.2 | 1,400 | <100 |
Finland | 2,600 | 0.1 | <1,000 | <100 |
France | 150,000 | 0.4 | 48,000 | 1,700 |
Germany | 67,000 | 0.1 | 12,000 | <1,000 |
Greece | 8,800 | 0.1 | 2,700 | <500 |
Iceland | <1,000 | 0.3 | <200 | <100 |
Ireland | 6,900 | 0.2 | 2,000 | <100 |
Israel | 7,500 | 0.2 | 2,200 | <100 |
Italy | 140,000 | 0.3 | 48,000 | <1,000 |
Luxembourg | <1,000 | 0.3 | <500 | <100 |
Malta | <500 | 0.1 | <100 | <100 |
Netherlands | 22,000 | 0.2 | 6,900 | <100 |
Norway | 4,000 | 0.1 | <1,200 | <100 |
Portugal | 42,000 | 0.6 | 13,000 | <500 |
Spain | 130,000 | 0.4 | 32,000 | 1,600 |
Sweden | 8,100 | 0.1 | 2,500 | <100 |
Switzerland | 18,000 | 0.4 | 5,700 | <100 |
United Kingdom | 85,000 | 0.2 | 26,000 | <1,000 |
HIV statistics
A cumulative total of 379,353 HIV infections had been diagnosed in Western Europe by the end of 2010. This considerably understates the true figure because not all HIV infections have been diagnosed or reported. This is partly because many people do not know that they are infected.
Of the reported 25,659 people diagnosed with HIV in Western Europe in 2010:
- 40% acquired HIV through heterosexual contact;
- 39% became infected through male-to-male sexual contact;
- 4% became infected through injecting drug use;
- 27% were female;
- 10% were 15 to 24 years old;
- and for 16% transmission was unknown.
The number of reported HIV diagnoses has increased from 12,748 in 2000 to 25,659 in 2010. This is an increase from 5.5 cases per 100,000 population to 6.6. Countries with the highest rates in 2010 were Belgium (11.0) and the United Kingdom (10.7).
Data on the original country in which infection occurred is available for 23 countries. According to these data, 48.1% of infections reported in 2010 originated from the country of report and 18.5% were acquired in sub-Saharan Africa. Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for almost 6.1% and other countries in Western Europe accounted for 3.4%. The origin was undetermined for 15.1% of cases.
AIDS statistics
In 2010 there were 4,249 diagnosed cases of AIDS reported in Western European countries. The highest rates of AIDS diagnoses were in Portugal (3.3 per 100,000 population), Spain (2.0) and Switzerland (1.9).
After falling dramatically in the late 1990s (following the introduction and widespread use of combination antiretroviral treatment), AIDS incidence has declined steadily since 2001, from 9,710 AIDS diagnoses to 4,249 in 2010.
AIDS mortality has also decreased as antiretroviral therapy has become widely available. Far fewer people died from AIDS in 2010 (1,048) than in 2004 (3,707).
Find out more about HIV and AIDS in Western and Central Europe.
back to top Central Europe
Central European country |
People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 | Adult prevalence % 2009 | Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009 | AIDS-related deaths 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bulgaria | 3,800 | 0.1 | 1,100 | <200 |
Croatia | <1,000 | <0.1 | <500 | <100 |
Czech Republic | 2,000 | <0.1 | <1,000 | <100 |
Hungary | 3,000 | <0.1 | <1,000 | <200 |
Poland | 27,000 | 0.1 | 8,200 | <200 |
Romania | 16,000 | 0.1 | 4,700 | <1,200 |
Serbia | 4,900 | 0.1 | 1,200 | <200 |
Slovakia | <500 | <0.1 | <100 | <100 |
Slovenia | <1,000 | <0.1 | <200 | <100 |
Turkey | 4,600 | <0.1 | 1,400 | <200 |
HIV statistics
There were a total of 2,478 HIV diagnoses in Central Europe in 2010. Of these diagnoses, 17% were in individuals aged 15 to 24 years old and 19% were female. Of those infections where the transmission route was known:
- 29% were exposed through male-to-male sexual contact;
- 24% were acquired through heterosexual contact;
- 4% were due to injecting drug use;
- and for 41% transmission route was unknown.
AIDS statistics
In 2010, 584 cases of AIDS were reported, compared to 793 in 2001. This decrease reflects the widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy in the region. The highest rate of AIDS cases was reported in Montenegro (1 per 100,000 population).
In 2010 there were a reported 167 AIDS deaths in Central Europe, compared to 359 in 2004.
back to top Eastern Europe
Eastern European country |
People living with HIV/AIDS 2009 | Adult prevalence % 2009 | Women living with HIV/AIDS 2009 | AIDS-related deaths 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Armenia | 1,900 | 0.1 | <1,000 | <100 |
Azerbaijan | 3,600 | 0.1 | 2,100 | <200 |
Belarus | 17,000 | 0.3 | 8,300 | <1,000 |
Estonia | 9,900 | 1.2 | 3,000 | <500 |
Georgia | 3,500 | 0.1 | 1,500 | <100 |
Kazakhstan | 13,000 | 0.1 | 7,700 | <500 |
Kyrgyzstan | 9,800 | 0.3 | 2,800 | <500 |
Latvia | 8,600 | 0.7 | 2,600 | <1,000 |
Lithuania | 1,200 | 0.1 | <500 | <100 |
Republic of Moldova | 12,000 | 0.4 | 5,100 | <1,000 |
Russian Federation | 980,000 | 1.0 | 480,000 | … |
Tajikistan | 9,100 | 0.2 | 2,700 | <500 |
Ukraine | 350,000 | 1.1 | 170,000 | 24,000 |
Uzbekistan | 28,000 | 0.1 | 8,000 | <500 |
HIV statistics
In 2010 there were a reported 90,198 newly diagnosed HIV infections in Eastern Europe, compared to 27,123 reported in 2009. This dramatic increase was largely due to Russia reporting data for newly diagnosed HIV infections (62,581) for the first time.
Of the new HIV diagnoses in Eastern European countries in 2009 (where data on transmission routes were available):
- 48% were acquired through heterosexual transmission;
- 43% resulted from injecting drug use;
- 0.7% were acquired through male-to-male sexual contact;
- 13% were aged 15-24 years;
- 42% were female;
- and for 6% transmission was unknown.
In addition to Russia, high rates of HIV were reported in Ukraine (36.4 per 100,000 population), Estonia (27.8 per 100,000 population) and Moldova (19.7 per 100,000 population), in 2010. Rates of newly diagnosed HIV infection have generally declined in Estonia, but in Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan rates have significantly increased since 2001.
AIDS statistics
A total of 2,881 AIDS diagnoses were reported in 2010 in Eastern Europe. However, this figure significantly underestimates the actual number, due to incomplete data from a number of countries (including Russia). In fact, UNAIDS estimated that in the same year, some 76,000 people died of AIDS in this region.3 Nearly all countries providing data since 2001 have seen an increase in the number of AIDS diagnoses.
Where Next?
AVERT.org has more about:
Sources back to top
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control/WHO Regional Office for Europe (2010) 'HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2009' - 2010
- UNAIDS (2010) 'UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic' - 2010
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control/WHO Regional Office for Europe (2011) 'HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2010' - 2011
References back to top
- WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF (2011) ‚'Global HIV/AIDS Response: Epidemic update and health sector progress towards Universal Access 2011'
- UNAIDS (2010) 'UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic'
- UNAIDS (2010) 'UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic'