U.N. Lowers Global HIV Estimate

Nov. 20, 2007 -- The United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) today cut their global HIV prevalence estimates by 16%.

According to the United Nations and WHO's 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update, an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide have HIV.

That's down from the 39.5 million people estimated to be living with HIV in 2006.

New HIV statistics -- especially from India -- are the reason for the revision.

Here are the 2007 global HIV and AIDS estimates from the United Nations and WHO:

• 30.8 million adults have HIV, including 15.4 million women.
• 2.5 million kids younger than 15 have HIV.
• 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV this year.
• 2.1 million people died of AIDS this year.

"Every day, over 6,800 persons become infected with HIV and over 5,700 persons die from AIDS, mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention and treatment services," state the United Nations and WHO.

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the hardest hit region, accounting for about 76% of AIDS deaths in 2007. AIDS remains the leading cause of death in that part of the world.