Rise And Fall In AIDS Deaths Per Year In The U.S. (2024)

The first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981. While this disease still poses significant health risks, the dramatic rise and fall in AIDS deaths per year tells both a cautionary tale and a success story.

When it was first discovered primarily in the gay community, AIDS was viewed as a political issue. The reluctance to spend money on research and treatment slowed the government’s response despite rapidly increasing numbers of AIDS deaths per year.

On the other hand, once the government swung into action in the 1990s, treatment protocols and medications emerged quickly, and the death rate fell. AIDS went from a leading cause of death for young men in the early 1990s to ninth place on the most recent list of causes of death for males aged 20-44.

A History of AIDS Deaths by Year

How many people die from AIDS every year? The answer depends on the year. AIDS once killed tens of thousands of people annually. The current number is just under 7,000. The following history provides some context for this dramatic change:

Epidemic Escalation: The Early 1990s

In 1990, the United States reported 27,668 AIDS-related deaths. This number rose steadily as the epidemic spread, with 1991 recording 32,129 aids deaths by year and increasing to 36,243 by 1992. Fatalities peaked in the mid-1990s, with 43,276 deaths in 1994, reflecting the severe impact before effective treatments.

A Shift in the Mid-1990s

A significant turning point came in 1996 with the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART). This year marked the beginning of a substantial decline in AIDS deaths. Fatalities dropped to 32,143 in 1996 and continued to decrease in the following years. By 1997, deaths had fallen to 21,056, and by 1998, to 17,230.

Steady Decrease in AIDS Deaths

In the early 2000s, deaths stabilized thanks to better HIV treatments and wider access to care. Each year, around 15,000 people died, but this number slowly decreased as treatment and prevention efforts improved. By 2009, the annual deaths had dropped to 10,618, and this decline continued in the following years.

Achieving New Lows: The 2010s to Present

By 2019, AIDS deaths per year in the U.S. had decreased to 6,228, the lowest number recorded since the epidemic began. Since 2020, the number of AIDS-related deaths has fallen every year based on a query on the CDC’s database of underlying causes of death and on reports from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Despite the successes, certain groups like drug users and homeless people still suffer high rates of infection and death.