Singapore's HIV cases fall to near-record low; but more than half caught too late

SINGAPORE – A total of 166 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were diagnosed among Singaporean citizens and permanent residents in 2025, which is slightly up from 151 the previous year.

Despite this increase, this marks the second consecutive year with fewer than 200 new cases, and remains well below the 300-500 cases recorded annually between 2009 and 2019. Making the total prevalence of HIV among Singaporean residents stand at 172 infections per 100,000 people.

However, among those newly diagnosed in 2025, 55.4%, 92 people, had late-stage HIV infection at the time of diagnosis, up from 51.7% the previous year.

“More than half of new diagnoses were late-stage infections, reminding us of the need to encourage earlier testing,” Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Health, said at the Singapore HIV, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Congress on Saturday (May 23).

Late-stage HIV infection, also known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is a condition where HIV has severely damaged the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections it would normally fight off.

The pattern of late diagnosis is closely tied to how cases are found, with 65.1% of new cases being detected during routine medical care, including for conditions unrelated to HIV. By contrast, cases detected through self-initiated screening tended to be diagnosed at an early stage of infection.

Sexual intercourse accounted for 97% of all transmissions in 2025, with heterosexual transmission accounting for 32.5% (54 cases), 56.6% (94 cases) occurring in men who have sex with men, and 7.8% (13 cases) occurring in bisexual men. The remaining five cases were due to uncertain or other causes.

Notably, no new cases of HIV transmission through intravenous drug use were recorded in 2025, marking the first time this transmission method reached zero since 1985.

The CDA recommends every adult get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, regardless of risk factors. Those engaging in at-risk sexual behaviours should test every three to six months. With early treatment, HIV can be suppressed to undetectable levels, the CDA said, adding that people on sustained treatment carry no risk of transmitting the virus to their partners.

Since January 2025, HIV self-testing kits have been available at more than 100 sites nationwide, including selected retail pharmacies, making it easier to get tested in a private setting. More information about HIV and AIDS, including testing locations and self-testing kit availability, can be found at https://www.cda.gov.sg/public/diseases/hiv.

CDA said it will continue to monitor the year-on-year trend, while focusing efforts on encouraging earlier detection, strengthening community outreach and HIV prevention awareness.