An estimated 712 children were infected with HIV daily in 2024, with about 250 children dying each day from AIDS-related causes, according to a new report published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The report, released Thursday, shows that 2.42 million of the 40.8 million people living with HIV globally in 2024 were children aged 0 to 19. UNICEF says the majority of deaths among children occurred due to limited access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services.
“As of 2024, roughly 13.8 million children under 18 had lost one or both parents to AIDS-related causes,” the report states. “Millions more are living in poverty, facing homelessness, school dropouts, discrimination, and other hardships caused or worsened by the epidemic.”
The report notes that 90,000 children and adolescents—or 14% of all AIDS-related deaths in 2024—were under 20 years old.
Sub-Saharan Africa Still Worst Affected
UNICEF says sub-Saharan Africa remains the most heavily impacted region, accounting for 86% of children and adolescents living with HIV globally. Southern Africa, in particular, continues to record high transmission rates.
The report attributes the spread in the region to heterosexual relationships, including transactional sex and intergenerational partnerships. It warns that adolescent girls and young women in relationships with older men remain especially vulnerable.
Progress, Gaps
UNICEF highlights some progress in reducing new infections among young children. The report indicates a 62% decline in new infections among children aged 0–14 since 2010, largely due to improved interventions aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission.
However, progress among adolescents has been slower, with new infections in the 15–19 age group dropping by only 44% during the same period.
The report also shows that 73% of child deaths from AIDS in 2024 occurred among children under 10, pointing to gaps in early detection and treatment.
Changing Patterns Globally
While sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicentre, the report notes changing transmission patterns in other regions. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, HIV, once mostly linked to injection drug use, is now spreading predominantly through sexual transmission. A similar trend is emerging across parts of Asia, where HIV is increasingly affecting lower-risk heterosexual populations.
“In Asia, the virus is steadily moving into broader populations, particularly the sexual partners of those considered high-risk, such as drug users, sex workers, and men who have sex with men,” UNICEF stated.
