According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the 2024 HIV surveillance data show continued progress toward ending HIV transmission in the UK. New diagnoses fell by 4%, from 3,169 in 2023 to 3,043 in 2024. England met UNAIDS targets for the sixth year running: 95% of adults living with HIV are diagnosed, 99% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 98% of those treated have suppressed viral loads.
Use of HIV prevention medication (PrEP) continues to grow since NHS commissioning in autumn 2020; in 2024, access rose by 7.7%, with 111,123 people receiving PrEP. HIV testing in sexual health services increased by 3%, and contact tracing remained effective—85% of contacted partners were tested, with 5% receiving an HIV diagnosis. Deaths among people living with HIV declined by 14%, from 751 to 643.
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UKHSA also highlights persisting gaps. Testing rates among 15–24-year-olds fell by 7%, this age group had the lowest treatment coverage (96% vs 99% in older groups), and only 91% achieved viral suppression (vs 98% overall). PrEP uptake is uneven: it is highest among white (79.4%) and ethnic minority (77.8%) gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, but substantially lower among Black African heterosexual women (34.6%) and men (36.4%). In England, new diagnoses among gay and bisexual men decreased by 6% (859 to 810), though 35% of these were among ethnic minority men. Geographical patterns persist, with diagnoses falling in London but rising outside London among heterosexual men. Late diagnosis remains a concern—42% of new cases were diagnosed late, and adults diagnosed late were ten times more likely to die within a year. Half of Black African heterosexual adults were diagnosed late, compared with under a third of gay and bisexual men.
Dr Tamara Djuretic, Head of the HIV Section at UKHSA, welcomed the fall in diagnoses and sustained achievement of UNAIDS targets—emphasising that effective treatment enables people to live long, healthy lives and prevents sexual transmission—but expressed concern about poorer testing and treatment outcomes among young people. UKHSA urges regular testing for those who are sexually active and notes that HIV tests and PrEP are free and confidential via the NHS and local sexual health services.
The Department of Health and Social Care, together with UKHSA, NHS England and partners, is developing the next HIV Action Plan—due this year—to address these challenges and build on current progress.
