Update on the HIV/AIDS Situation in Singapore 2024 (May 2025)

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Update on the HIV/AIDS Situation in Singapore 2024 (May 2025)

19 May 2025

Update on the HIV/AIDS Situation in Singapore 2024

There were 151 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections reported among Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in 2024. This brings the total number of Singapore residents known to be living with HIV to 7,137 as of end 2024. The number of new cases annually had been gradually decreasing over the years, ranging from 300 to 500 from 2009 to 2019, and 200 to 250 cases from 2020 to 2023.
 

Of the 151 new cases, 93.4% (141 out of 151) were male. Of these, 51.7% (78 out of 151) had late-stage HIV infection¹ when they were diagnosed, which is similar to the proportion of late-stage cases in 2023, 51.2% (107 out of 209).
 

Sexual intercourse remains the main mode of HIV transmission, accounting for 96% (145 out of 151) of the cases. Heterosexual transmission accounted for 38.4% (58 out of 151) of the cases, while 50.3% of the cases (76 out of 151) occurred in men who have sex with men, and 7.3% (11 out of 151) occurred in bisexual men.
 

61.6% (93 out of 151) of the newly reported cases were detected during the course of medical care², with the majority presenting at a late stage of HIV infection. Another 17.9% (27 out of 151) were detected during routine programmatic HIV screening³ and 15.9% (24 out of 151) were detected from self-initiated HIV screening. The rest were detected through other forms of screening. Cases detected via self-initiated screening tended to be at the early stage of infection. A higher proportion of men who have sex with men including bisexual men (23%, 20 out of 87) had their HIV infection detected via self-initiated HIV screening compared to cases attributed to heterosexual transmission (6.9%, 4 out of 58).
 

Annex A provides detailed data for cases reported from 1985 to 2024.

Public Advisory

The most effective way to prevent HIV infection is to remain faithful to one’s spouse/ partner and to avoid casual sex. Persons engaging in at-risk sexual behaviours, such as having multiple sexual partners or engaging in casual or commercial sex, are strongly advised to use condoms to reduce their risk of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms should be used consistently and correctly during every sexual encounter. In addition, the use of preventive measures like HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis are highly effective when used as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy.

 

Knowing one’s HIV status enables one to receive treatment early and prevent others from getting infected. Since testing is the only way to determine one’s HIV status, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) recommends that every adult get tested at least once in their lifetime, regardless of risk factors. Individuals who engage in at-risk sexual behaviours should go for regular HIV testing every three to six months. HIV self-testing is a quick and convenient way to check one’s HIV status. These kits allow individuals to collect oral specimens independently in a private setting. HIV self-testing kits are available for purchase at selected retail pharmacies nationwide, making it easier to get tested.
 

With early and effective treatment, persons living with HIV can lead lives no different from others. Although there is no cure for HIV, persons living with HIV can be treated with antiretroviral therapy which is effective at controlling the infection. This also provides an opportunity to protect their partners from infection, as people living with HIV who are on regular treatment and have an undetectable viral load have practically no risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners. 94% of Singapore residents living with HIV who are undergoing treatment have achieved an undetectable viral load.
 

CDA will continue working with partner organisations on programmes and campaigns to encourage at-risk individuals to take protective measures, such as going for early and regular HIV testing.
 

More information about HIV and AIDS as well as where to undergo HIV testing or purchase HIV self-testing kits can be found here.

 

¹ CD4+ cell count of less than 200 per cubic mm of blood or AIDS-defining opportunistic infections or both

² Includes cases that presented with HIV-specific symptoms and cases with non-HIV related medical conditions

³ Includes screening programmes for individuals with sexually transmitted infections, hospital inpatients and those identified through contact tracing

 

Annex A

Table 1: Number of Singapore Residents Reported with HIV/AIDS (1985-2024)

 

Year	Male	Female	Total	Rates*
1985	2	0	2	0.1
1986	6	1	7	0.3
1987	10	0	10	0.4
1988	15	0	15	0.6
1989	9	1	10	0.4
1990	17	0	17	0.6
1991	39	3	42	1.5
1992	49	6	55	1.9
1993	58	6	64	2.2
1994	76	10	86	2.9
1995	102	9	111	3.7
1996	123	16	139	4.5
1997	157	16	173	5.5
1998	167	32	199	6.3
1999	171	35	206	6.4
2000	193	33	226	6.9
2001	204	33	237	7.1
2002	206	28	234	6.9
2003	212	30	242	7.2
2004	290	21	311	9.1
2005	287	30	317	9.1
2006	327	32	359	10.2
2007	392	31	423	11.8
2008	426	30	456	12.5
2009	418	45	463	12.4
2010	403	38	441	11.7
2011	430	31	461	12.2
2012	437	32	469	12.3
2013	428	26	454	11.8
2014	422	34	456	11.8
2015	423	32	455	11.7
2016	380	28	408	10.4
2017	408	26	434	10.9
2018	290	23	313	7.8
2019	308	15	323	8.0
2020	241	20	261	6.5
2021	238	12	250	6.3
2022	187	15	202	5.0
2023	199	10	209	5.0
2024	141	10	151	3.6
Total	8891	800	9691

^*Per 100,000 resident population.

Table 2: Distribution of HIV/AIDS-infected Singapore Residents by Modes of Transmission (1985-2024)

 

Mode of Transmission	1985 - 2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Sexual Transmission
Heterosexual	4704	96	82	75	66	58	5081
Men having sex with men	2850	125	147	102	119	76	3419
Bisexual	652	28	8	10^	12	11	721
Intravenous drug use	126	3	3	3	1	1	137
Blood Transfusion	3	0	0	0	0	1*	4
Renal Transplant overseas	5	0	0	0	0	0	5
Perinatal (mother to child)	34	0	0	0	0	0	34
Uncertain/Others	244	9	10	12	11	4	290
Total	8618	261	250	202	209	151	9691

^{^}9 males and 1 female

^*Transmission occurred overseas

Table 3: HIV/AIDS-infected Singapore Residents by Marital Status and Sex (1985-2024)

 

Marital status	1985 - 2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Male
Single	5176	175	191	143	145	106	5936
Married	1933	53	35	35	40	27	2123
Divorced/Separated	632	13	8	9	13	7	682
Widowed	144	0	4	0	1	1	150
Total	7885	241	238	187	199	141	8891
Female
Single	142	6	2	3	5	3	161
Married	416	10	6	5	1	5	443
Divorced/Separated	123	3	3	6	2	2	139
Widowed	52	1	1	1	2	0	57
Total	733	20	12	15	10	10	800
Total
Single	5318	181	193	146	150	109	6097
Married	2349	63	41	40	41	32	2566
Divorced/Separated	755	16	11	15	15	9	821
Widowed	196	1	5	1	3	1	207
Total	8618	261	250	202	209	151	9691

Table 4: HIV/AIDS-infected Singapore Residents by Ethnic Group (1985-2024)

 

Ethnic Group	1985 - 2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Chinese	6590	172	157	122	135	86	7262
Malay	1284	65	61	52	47	37	1546
Indian	453	15	22	19	13	19	541
Others	291	9	10	9	14	9	342
Total	8618	261	250	202	209	151	9691

Table 5: HIV/AIDS-infected Male Singapore Residents by Age and Modes of Transmission (1985-2024)

 

Age group and mode of transmission		1985 - 2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Male	Heterosexual
	15 – 19	11	0	0	1	0	1	13
	20 – 29	367	2	4	5	7	6	391
	30 – 39	903	13	18	10	8	8	960
	40 – 49	1124	12	12	17	8	10	1183
	50 – 59	935	28	16	15	13	10	1017
	60 & above	689	22	20	14	20	13	778
	Total	4029	77	70	62	56	48	4342
	Men who have sex with men / Bisexual
	15 – 19	65	5	0	1	1	4	76
	20 – 29	978	32	29	24	18	16	1097
	30 – 39	1248	49	46	35	40	24	1442
	40 – 49	830	36	45	29	31	20	991
	50 – 59	315	21	24	17	30	19	426
	60 & above	56	10	11	5	11	4	97
	Total	3492	153	155	111	131	87	4129
	Others
	0 – 14	19	0	0	0	0	0	19
	15 – 19	13	0	0	1	0	0	14
	20 – 29	46	0	3	1	1	0	51
	30 – 39	101	3	5	1	2	2	114
	40 – 49	97	1	1	3	5	0	107
	50 – 59	62	3	1	4	3	3	76
	60 & above	26	4	3	4	1	1	39
	Total	364	11	13	14	12	6	420
	Total
	0 – 14	19	0	0	0	0	0	19
	15 – 19	89	5	0	3	1	5	103
	20 – 29	1391	34	36	30	26	22	1539
	30 – 39	2252	65	69	46	50	34	2516
	40 – 49	2051	49	58	49	44	30	2281
	50 – 59	1312	52	41	36	46	32	1519
	60 & above	771	36	34	23	32	18	914
	Total	7885	241	238	187	199	141	8891

Table 6: HIV/AIDS-infected Female Singapore Residents by Age and Modes of Transmission (1985-2024)

 

Age group and mode of transmission		1985 - 2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	Total
Female	Sexual
	15 – 19	12	1	0	1	0	1	15
	20 – 29	166	0	2	4^	0	1	173
	30 – 39	175	5	3	0	2	2	187
	40 – 49	144	3	3	3	2	2	157
	50 – 59	121	7	2	2	5	2	139
	60 & above	67	3	2	4	1	2	79
	Total	685	19	12	14	10	10	750
	Others
	0 – 14	15	0	0	0	0	0	15
	15 –19	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
	20 –29	6	1	0	0	0	0	7
	30 –39	10	0	0	0	0	0	10
	40 –49	10	0	0	0	0	0	10
	50 –59	3	0	0	1	0	0	4
	60 & above	3	0	0	0	0	0	3
	Total	48	1	0	1	0	0	50
	Total
	0 – 14	15	0	0	0	0	0	15
	15 – 19	13	1	0	1	0	1	16
	20 – 29	172	1	2	4	0	1	180
	30 – 39	185	5	3	0	2	2	197
	40 – 49	154	3	3	3	2	2	167
	50 – 59	124	7	2	3	5	2	143
	60 & above	70	3	2	4	1	2	82
	Total	733	20	12	15	10	10	800

^{^}including 1 bisexual

 

 

 

[source: here]

 

[kidster]

Does the drop of new HIV cases in 2024 prove the efficacy of PREP?

[doncoin]

I think it is a combination of factors. Awareness, PreP, and maybe lack of fucking. 

[egal]

why is there still no vaccine for it after so long

[mate69]

Actually, I wonder how many in the gay community in SG actually are on PreP and stick to it in terms of frequency and consistency, and not just claiming to be taking it.

 

Why I ask is because I know that PreP isn't exactly that accessible in terms of cost (I might be wrong) compared to say the West for example,

and cost is still a significant barrier to access for the gay community, at least in this part of the world (SG, I mean)

 

Edited May 31 by mate69

[mate69]

6 minutes ago, egal said:

why is there still no vaccine for it after so long

 

Big Pharma will work together to ensure this doesn't happen (which is sad). I'm pretty sure