UKHSA HIV surveillance data for 2024, published 07 October 2025

Late diagnoses still too high

Despite an overall 4% drop in new diagnoses, and continuing progress in testing and prevention, the latest HIV surveillance data for 2024 from UKHSA reveals an unacceptably high, and totally avoidable, level of late diagnosis. Two in five (42%) of all new cases were late diagnosis, with consequent negative health outcomes. Adults diagnosed late are 10 times more likely to die within a year.

Half of black African heterosexuals are diagnosed late, compared to less than one third of gay and bisexual men, highlighting continuing inequalities. The steepest fall in transmission was seen among white gay and bisexual men (6%) but ethnic and minority gay and bisexual men now account for over one third of all HIV diagnoses in this cohort.

While an overall 7.7% increase in accessing PrEP in 2024 is welcome, there is a huge disparity which again reflects inequalities. Only just over a third of black African heterosexual women (34.6%) and men (36.4%) access PrEP, compared to more than three quarters of white (79.4%) and ethnic minority (77.8%) gay and bisexual men. Young people in the 15 – 24 age group are also falling behind, with lower testing rates (decline of 7%) and treatment coverage (96%).

Professor Yvonne Gilleece, Chair of the British HIV Association said:

“No one should be diagnosed late today, with effective treatment and testing available to all. While it is good to see a fall in deaths from HIV, and an increase in both PrEP usage and testing, we are clearly not reaching everyone – with particular concern towards ethnic minorities, women and young people. Shocking disparities remain and we must increase our efforts to achieve genuine equality in the HIV sector and to stand a chance of even coming close to 2030 goals.”

For further information please contact Jo Josh on +44 (0) 7306 391875 or email [email protected].