In 2008, an estimated 83,000 people were living with HIV in the UK. We cannot tell for certain how many people are living with HIV because this number combines the 61,000 people diagnosed with HIV and an estimated 22,000 who were infected but undiagnosed.
The overall proportion of people living with HIV in the UK is estimated to be 0.13%, or 1 in 770. The proportion of men living with HIV in the UK is estimated to be 0.18%, or 1 in 560, the proportion of women living with HIV in the UK is estimated to be just under 0.09%, or 1 in 1140
This information is based on the Health Protection Agency’s calculations for 2008 as seen in their HIV in the United Kingdom: 2009 Report.
How many people have been diagnosed and are accessing HIV specialist care?
In 2008 there were 61,210 people in the UK living with a diagnosed HIV infection and accessing care.
How has this been changing over time?
The number of people accessing HIV specialist care has increased every year in the last decade, from 20,099 in 1999 to 61,213 in 2008. This is an increase of over three-fold.
The percentage shows the change compared to the previous year.
This chart shows how the number of HIV positive people accessing care from an HIV specialist in the UK has changed over time, reported by the Health Protection Agency. The data is taken from the HPA’s SOPHID table YrUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the United Kingdom (UK), by country and SHA of residence: 1999 – 2008.
What about people of different genders?
About two thirds of people accessing HIV specialist care are male.
| Gender | % of total accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| Men | 66% |
| Women | 34% |
| | 100% |
This information is based on the Health Protection Agency’s figures for the numbers of HIV positive people who were accessing HIV care in the UK in 2008: 40,100 males, and 21,100 females, as seen in the HPA’s HIV in the United Kingdom: 2009 Report.
What about people in different probable exposure categories?
Of those living with HIV in the UK and accessing HIV specialist care, more people were infected through heterosexual sex than through sex between men. It is however worth noting that, based on the numbers for new infections, a large proportion of those living with HIV in the UK who were infected through heterosexual sex were infected outside the UK, whilst most of the men who have sex with men living with HIV in the UK acquired their infection within the UK.
| Probable exposure category | % of total accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| Heterosexual contact | 50% |
| Sex between men | 42% |
| Injecting drug use | 2% |
| Mother-to-child transmission | 2% |
| Blood/blood products recipient | 1% |
| Other/Unknown | 3% |
| | 100% |
These statistics were calculated using information from the HPA’s SOPHID Table ExpUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the UK by country and SHA of residence and exposure category: 2008. 30,500 were exposed through sex between a man and a woman, 25,600 were exposed through sex between men, 1,500 were exposed from injecting drug use, 1,400 were exposed from mother-to-child transmission and 500 were exposed from blood/receiving blood products.
What about people of different ethnicities?
Over half of people accessing HIV specialist care in the UK are white, and over a third are black African.
| Ethnicity | % of total accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| White | 51% |
| Black African | 36% |
| Black Caribbean | 3% |
| Other/mixed | 9% |
| Unknown | 1% |
| | 100% |
These statistics were calculated using information sourced from the HPA’s 2008 SOPHID Table EthnUK: Numbers of HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the UK by country and SHA of residence, ethnic group and sex: 2008. 31,020 were white, 22,280 were black African and 1,780 were black Caribbean.
What about people of different ages?
Over half of all people living with HIV and being seen for HIV care are aged between 30 and 44, but there are significant numbers both of young people and older people now living with HIV.
| Age | % of total accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| Under 15 | 2% |
| 15-24 | 4% |
| 25-34 | 23% |
| 35-44 | 40% |
| 45-54 | 22% |
| 55 and over | 9% |
| | 100% |
These statistics were calculated using data sourced from the HPA’s SOPHID Table AgeUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the UK by country and SHA of residence, age-group and sex: 2008.
What about people in the different nations of the UK?
The vast majority of people accessing HIV care in the UK live in England.
| Nation | % of total people accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| England | 92% |
| Scotland | 5% |
| Wales | 2% |
| Northern Ireland | 1% |
| UK | 100% |
These statistics were calculated using information sourced from the HPA’s SOPHID Table YrUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the United Kingdom (UK), by country and SHA of residence: 1999 – 2008: 56,400 in England, 2,900 in Scotland, 1,000 in Wales and 400 in Northern Ireland.
What about people in the different regions within England?
Nearly half of all people living with HIV in the UK live in London. This proportion increased from 44% in 2007 to 48% in 2008.
| Region | % of total people accessing HIV specialist care in the UK |
| London | 48% |
| North West | 9% |
| South East Coastal | 6% |
| West Midlands | 6% |
| East of England | 5% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 5% |
| South Central | 4% |
| South West | 4% |
| East Midlands | 4% |
| North East | 2% |
| Total England | 93% |
These statistics were calculated using information sourced from the HPA’s SOPHID Table YrUK: Numbers of diagnosed HIV-infected individuals seen for care in the United Kingdom (UK), by country and SHA of residence: 1999 – 2008. Figures range from 29,600 in London and 5,600 in the North West to 1,100 in the North East and 2,400 in the East Midlands.