Canada's Progress Toward Ending the HIV Epidemic: Report on key indicators

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Global targets for HIV testing and treatment

Sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) remain a significant public health concern in Canada despite being largely preventable and treatable^{Footnote 1}. Canada has committed to meeting global targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization towards the elimination of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030^{Footnote 2}.

These targets call for 95% of people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to have a suppressed viral load. When these three targets are achieved, at least 86% of all people living with HIV will be virally suppressed, thus limiting both severe health consequences and onward transmission.

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Why monitoring Canada's progress is important

The Government of Canada is committed to assessing the impact of programs and policies as part of the renewed Government of Canada's 2024–2030 STBBI Action Plan^{Footnote 3}. A central component of this effort is the HIV care continuum, a public health model that traces the stages from initial diagnosis to achieving viral suppression. Tracking progress at each step provides a clear, practical framework for measuring advancement toward the global 95-95-95 targets and for identifying gaps in care where focused interventions can strengthen outcomes at both national and regional levels.

A strong monitoring approach also relies on understanding both HIV incidence and prevalence. Incidence data, which represents the number of new infections within a given time period, reveals changes in transmission patterns and helps evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies. Prevalence estimates, which account for all people living with HIV whether diagnosed or not, are critical for guiding investment in treatment, care, and ongoing support for those living with and affected by HIV.

Together, these measures create a comprehensive picture of Canada's progress and help ensure that policies and investments are responsive, evidence-based, and equitable.

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Key highlights

Global targets

In 2024, there were an estimated 70,900 people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Estimated HIV incidence

In 2024, an estimated 2,517 new infections occurred, representing a 22.8% increase from 2022, when 2,050 infections were recorded. This translates to approximately 7 people being newly infected with HIV each day across the country.