HIV in Scotland
Update to 31 December 2024

About this release

This annual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents data on the uptake of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV testing, HIV diagnoses, access to specialist HIV care and uptake of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Scotland.

Main points

• Scotland is making good progress towards HIV transmission elimination targets. At 31 December 2024, an estimated 6,467 people were living with HIV in Scotland. Of the 94% (6,079) diagnosed, 91% (5,520/6,079) received ART between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2024, and 95% (5,260/5,520) had a suppressed viral load (more information is available on the Terrence Higgins Trust website).

This is a line chart showing the number of diagnoses (combining the first ever and previously known outwith Scotland) by mode of acquisition. A blue line represents the number of diagnoses among people who inject drugs and despite a slight peak in 2015, the number of diagnoses has remained fairly stable and below 50 diagnoses. A green line represents the number of diagnoses acquired from sexual intercourse between men and women and shows the number of cases steadily declined until 2021, followed by a steep increase until 2023, after which, a slight decline was recorded for 2024. A magenta line represents the number of diagnoses among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and shows a steady decline in diagnoses between 2015 and 2024. A purple line represents all exposure categories and shows after a decrease in diagnoses between 2015 and 2021, a sharp increase was recorded in the number of diagnoses from all exposure categories and was followed by a slight decline in 2024.

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Annual number of HIV diagnoses by mode of acquisition, Scotland, 2015-2024

1. All modes of acquisition include diagnoses currently under investigation.
2. All modes of acquisition include those whose mode of acquisition is recorded as other or not known.

• From 1 January to 31 December 2024, 2,472 individuals accessed HIV PrEP for the first time, averaging 206 per month. This is the second highest monthly average, since the HIV PrEP programme started in July 2017, exceeded only by 216 per month in the period 1 January to 31 December 2023.
• Access to services during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted HIV testing levels; however, there is evidence of testing recovery with initiatives being implemented in key settings including sexual health services, drug services and prisons.
• In 2024, 375 HIV diagnoses were recorded in Scotland, the majority (67%, 250/375) of which were previously known diagnoses recorded for the first time in Scotland and were largely attributed to heterosexual sexual intercourse and acquisition outwith Scotland.
• Of the 375 HIV reports in 2024, 125 were first time diagnoses. Since 2017, the annual number of first ever diagnoses recorded has nearly halved, decreasing from 225 to 125.
• Of the 125 first time diagnoses, 19% were thought to be transmissions which had occurred in Scotland; this represents a decline compared to 2023 and progress towards achieving Scotland's goal of zero HV transmissions within Scotland by 2030.

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, causing a chronic, lifelong infection which can be managed successfully by antiretroviral therapy. HIV can be transmitted through condomless vaginal and anal sex, sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment and transmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. Untreated HIV infection progresses to advanced HIV disease or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). People diagnosed with HIV and on ART are able to live long, healthy lives. HIV PrEP is highly effective for preventing sexual acquisition of HIV.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be Autumn 2026.