ADDIS-ABABA, July 28 – The global fight against HIV could lose momentum after international funding dropped sharply in 2025, according to a new report by UNAIDS.
The UN agency said funding for HIV programmes fell by 18% to $7.3 billion last year, the lowest level in nearly 20 years. It warned that unless countries increase financial and political support, new HIV infections could begin to rise again after years of progress.
The report, released on Monday at the International AIDS Conference in Brazil, said new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths had fallen to their lowest levels in more than 30 years. However, it warned that those achievements are now at risk.
UNAIDS said the United States had provided about 75% of global HIV funding before President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. After taking office, he temporarily paused HIV funding before restoring life-saving treatment programmes. However, most HIV prevention programmes remained affected.
Although some countries increased their own spending on HIV programmes, total funding still fell by 6% last year.
Not all countries were able to make up for the shortfall. In sub-Saharan Africa, where many new HIV cases are recorded, some of the biggest cuts were seen in HIV prevention programmes.
Data from Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia showed that the number of people receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medicine that helps prevent HIV infection, dropped by more than 50%.
UNAIDS also said the world is no longer on track to end AIDS by 2030. It blamed reduced funding and health emergencies, including Ebola outbreaks, for slowing progress. The report added that about 1.2 million people were newly infected with HIV last year.
