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Epidemiology of HIV in Canada

Overview

The Public Health Agency of Canada publishes estimates that help us understand the epidemiology of HIV in Canada.

As of 2020, it is estimated that there were 62,790 people living with HIV in Canada (this is the prevalence of HIV in Canada).

In 2020, it is estimated that there were 1,520 new HIV infections in Canada (this is the incidence of HIV in Canada). There was a small decrease in the number of new HIV infections in 2020 compared with 2018, when there were an estimated 1,760 new HIV infections.

Many countries including Canada have signed on to global targets set by UNAIDS to address HIV. One of these targets is called 90-90-90. It is a goal that 90% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 90% of those who are diagnosed are taking treatment and 90% of those taking treatment are virally suppressed by 2020. At the end of 2020, it was estimated that Canada had met two of these targets, with:

  • 90% of people living with HIV diagnosed
  • 87% of those diagnosed on treatment
  • 95% of those on treatment having a supressed viral load

Canada has also signed on to more ambitious targets of 95-95-95 by 2025.

To learn more about the epidemiology of HIV in Canada, check out:

Canada's progress toward global targets – This infographic poster shows how well Canada is doing at reaching global targets set by UNAIDS.

New HIV infections in Canada – This infographic poster illustrates the breakdown of new HIV infections by mode of transmission for each region across Canada.

People living with HIV in Canada – This infographic poster illustrates the breakdown of people living with HIV by mode of transmission for each region across Canada