MANILA, Philippines โ The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Philippines is projected to reach 252,800 by the end of 2025, according to new data from the Department of Health (DOH).
A report from the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, shared by the Quezon City health monitoring unit on Tuesday, showed 149,375 laboratory-confirmed PLHIVs as of September. Of these, 67% are on antiretroviral therapy (ART)โlifesaving medication that suppresses HIV infection. Only 57% have undergone viral load testing in the past year, a key indicator for treatment effectiveness.
Despite improving access to treatment, the country remains far from meeting the UNAIDS โ95-95-95โ targets: 95% of PLHIV diagnosed, 95% of those on treatment, and 95% of those with suppressed viral load by 2030. These targets are part of the Philippinesโ HIV medium-term plan.
Surge in new infections
From July to September alone, the DOH recorded 5,583 newly confirmed HIV casesโa 22% increase from the same period in 2024. The country now logs an average of 61 new infections daily, also 22% higher than last yearโs 50 per day.
Men make up 95% of new cases, with infections concentrated among younger Filipinos: 42% are aged 25 to 34; and 30% are aged 15 to 24.
Sexual contact remains the dominant mode of transmission, accounting for 96% of all infections from 1984 to 2025.
HIV Deaths slightly down
The DOH also reported 125 deaths among PLHIVs from July to September, a slight 2% decrease from the same period last year. Since 1984, the country has recorded 9,903 deaths, nearly half of which involved individuals already in an advanced stage of HIV at the time of diagnosis.
One encouraging trend: the proportion of newly diagnosed PLHIVs with advanced HIV disease has fallen by 18% compared with 2020, suggesting earlier testing and improved awareness.
The DOH said it will continue scaling up testing, treatment, and community-based programs as the country grapples with one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region.
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