More than half of HIV diagnoses in Europe in 2024 occurred too late for optimal treatment, according to new data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The report states that 54% of all diagnoses were made at a late stage, raising concerns about meeting the region's target to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The annual surveillance report indicates that there were 105,922 HIV diagnoses across the WHO European Region in 2024, which covers 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia. Although this figure represents a slight decrease from 2023, significant gaps remain in testing and diagnosis. Late diagnosis prevents many individuals from accessing timely antiretroviral therapy and healthcare services, increasing their risk of developing AIDS, dying from related complications, or transmitting HIV to others.
Within the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), there were 24,164 reported cases—equivalent to a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 people. Of these cases, nearly half (48%) were diagnosed late. The most common mode of transmission was sex between men (48%), but heterosexual transmission accounted for almost as many cases at nearly 46%, showing an upward trend.
Across the entire region covered by WHO Europe, late diagnosis rates were highest among those infected through heterosexual contact—particularly men—and people who inject drugs. Migrants represented more than half of new diagnoses within the EU/EEA; overall, nearly one-third of those diagnosed with HIV in Europe last year were born outside their country of diagnosis. This underscores ongoing challenges in providing accessible and culturally appropriate prevention and testing services.
Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe said: "Our data paints a mixed picture. Since 2020, HIV testing across the European Region has rebounded, resulting in a higher volume of reported tests and a corresponding rise in HIV diagnoses in 11 countries in 2024. In 2024 alone, 105,922 people were diagnosed with HIV, with an overall 2.68 million diagnoses reported since 1980s. However, the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV is growing, a silent crisis that's fueling transmission. We are not doing enough to remove the deadly barriers of stigma and discrimination that prevent people from seeking out a simple test. An early diagnosis is not a privilege but a gateway to a long, healthy life and the key to stopping HIV in its tracks."
Both ECDC and WHO/Europe have called for increased efforts to make testing routine and widely available—including through self-testing kits and community-based programs—to reach populations who may not use traditional healthcare services.
An online event titled 'World AIDS Day 2025: Redefining the Journey' will be held on December 1st at 15:30 by ECDC to discuss these findings further.
