HIV deaths down 57%, hepatitis B deaths up 17%: WHO finds a split global picture

WHO has released the first global mid-term assessment of its 2022–2030 strategies for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections.

HIV has made substantial gains, but hepatitis B mortality has moved in the opposite direction and none of the three responses is on track for 2030.

The two headline percentages use different baselines

HIV-related deaths reached 570,000 in 2025, 57% below 2010. Hepatitis B-related deaths reached about 1.1 million in 2024, 17% above 2015.

New HIV infections fell 42% from 2010 to 1.2 million in 2025. Hepatitis C-related deaths fell 12% from 2015 to 240,000 in 2024. The latest years and baselines differ, so the percentage sizes are not a direct like-for-like comparison.

HIV progress still falls short of the target

About 32 million people were receiving HIV treatment by the end of 2025, while roughly 9 million lacked access to lifesaving therapy. The 2030 goal is a 90% reduction in both new infections and deaths from 2010.

Donor cuts have already affected prevention, testing, treatment initiation and laboratory capacity. In a WHO survey, 47 of 107 responding countries reported some HIV service disruption in 2025.

Hepatitis B deaths rose despite available tools

Hepatitis B and C together caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2024. Effective antivirals exist, but diagnosis and treatment coverage remain low; hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination coverage in the African Region was only 17%.

Twenty of the region’s 47 countries had not implemented the birth dose. The central problem is the gap between available prevention and real access.

STIs are worsening, but the total is uncertain

STI rates are rising in several countries and communities, while resistance to gonorrhoea antibiotics is growing. Yet major infections are often not notifiable and standardized reporting remains absent.

The report therefore treats weak surveillance, diagnostics, financing and health information systems as part of the emergency, not just a technical footnote.

Integration is the priority for the next five years

WHO calls for HIV, hepatitis and STI services to be integrated with primary care, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health.

This is a global assessment as checked on July 28, 2026. Country-level treatment, vaccination and testing data, followed by the 2028 progress report, will show whether the gaps actually narrow.

Official Primary Sources

WHO: 2026 mid-term progress report, 122 pages and data tables

WHO: official release with HIV, hepatitis and STI headline figures