In this article, we will look at the 20 Cities With the Highest HIV/AIDS Rates in the US. We have also analyzed the HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States along with the global HIV drug market.
HIV Incidence and Prevalence in the United States
The government of the United States has set a goal to reduce the number of HIV infections by 75% by 2025 and 90% by 2030 as part of its Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US initiative. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there were approximately 32,100 estimated new infections in 2021 by transmission category in the US. Of these new infections 70% were reported among gay, bisexual, and male-to-male sexual contact, 22% were reported to be transmitted by heterosexual contact, and around 8% were transmitted among people who inject drugs. As per the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, the government aims to curb the new infection number to 9,000 new infections by 2025, and to 3,000 by 2030.
In a regional analysis of the HIV incidence and prevalence within the United States, South America accounted for approximately 52% of the new HIV infections, followed by the Western and Mid-Western regions with 21% and 14% new infections during 2021. Northeast America accounted for the least new infections and reported only a 14% new infection rate during the same year. Analyzing the diagnosis trends among different races and ethnicities within America reveals that during 2021, 36% of African American gay or bisexual men were diagnosed with HIV infection, followed by Hispanic/Latino and white Americans with 33% and 25% diagnosis rates during 2021. Although the overall HIV diagnosis shows improvement as compared to 2017 figures, with HIV diagnosis among men and women going down by 15% and 11% respectively from 2017 to 2021. However, the government still needs to go a long way in reaching its 2025 target as according to the AtlasPlus data by CDC, around 37,601 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2022, up by 5.41% as compared to 2021 diagnosis figures.
An Overview of the Global HIV Drug Market
According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global HIV drug market was valued at $34.13 billion in 2023. The market is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% to reach $58.24 billion by 2032. The viral infection is spreading around the world at a growing rate. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 39.0 million people were living with the infection in 2022. However, on the bright side, the number of incidence of new HIV cases has reduced since 2010. As per the data, approximately 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2022 as compared to 2.1 million people acquiring the virus in 2010. The increased awareness of the virus, prompt diagnosis, and demand for treatment medication are factors contributing to growth in the market.
Some of the leading pharmaceutical companies contributing to curbing and treating HIV infection include GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).
GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) is a leading pharmaceutical company based in the United Kingdom that researches and develops vaccines and other general medicines. The company through its subsidiaries operates in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. On March 5 Reuters reported that GSK plc’s (NYSE:GSK) new HIV drug formula could support longer dosing intervals. The new formula can be potentially administered at least every 4 months as opposed to the previous requirement of 2-month dosing intervals. Moreover, the company has shifted its focus to long-acting treatments and prevention therapies.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is another international healthcare company that operates through two segments; pharmaceuticals and animal health. On March 6, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) along with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) announced the results of a phase 2 clinical trial showing an oral once-weekly combination of the Regimen of Islatravir and Lenacapavir as a viable option to suppress the viral HIV infection. The combination was found to maintain a high rate (94.2%) of viral suppression rate. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is a leading innovator in developing treatment and conducting cure research for HIV.
Now that we have looked at the HIV incidence and prevention situation in the United States and have also discussed the global HIV drug market. Let’s now look at the 20 Cities with the Highest HIV/AIDS Rates in the US.
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Our Methodology
To compile the list of 20 cities with the highest HIV/AIDS Rates in the US, we used the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Data Atlas for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention. From CDC’s Data Atlas, we selected the HIV and AIDS prevalence indicators, next, we selected Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as our geography for the dataset and the latest year for which the data was available, which is 2022. Lastly, we selected the demographics for our dataset, which were ages 13 and older, all races/ethnicities, both sexes, and all transmission categories. With this, we had HIV and AIDS prevalence data of all major MSAs with a population of at least 500,000.
For this title we wanted to rank cities that had high rates of both HIV and AIDS, therefore, we averaged the rate per 100,000 of HIV and AIDS to rank the MSA’s.
Please note that the list contains major Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), where each MSA contains multiple cities. The list is ranked in ascending order of the average rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000. We have included the names of cities included in each MSA.
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20 Cities With the Highest HIV/AIDS Rates in the US
20. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 439.25%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 304.8%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 573.7%
HIV Cases: 22,774
AIDS Cases: 12,102
The San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state of California ranks 20th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The Area is also known as the San Francisco Bay Area and consists of San Francisco as the main city, Oakland, and Berkeley. The area had 22,774 HIV cases and 12,102 AIDS cases in 2022.
19. San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, Puerto Rico
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 450.6%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 302.3%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 598.9%
HIV Cases: 10,976
AIDS Cases: 5,540
The San Juan-Carolina-Caguas metropolitan statistical area ranks as the 19th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The area comprises principal cities including Bayamón, Caguas, Guaynabo, and San Juan. The area had 10,976 HIV and 5,540 AIDS cases in 2022.
18. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 454.4%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 297.3%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 611.5%
HIV Cases: 50,991
AIDS Cases: 24,795
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan statistical area ranks as the 18th city with the highest HIV/AIDS Rates in the US. The area had a 454.4% average rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000 population in 2022. Some of the major principal cities in the metropolitan area include Glendale, Gardena, Long Beach, and Los Angeles.
17. Columbia, South Carolina
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 458.5%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 318.6%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 598.4%
HIV Cases: 4,307
AIDS Cases: 2,293
Columbia City is situated in the South Carolina state of the US. It ranks as the 17th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The city had 4,307 HIV and 2,293 AIDS cases in 2022.
16. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Florida
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 492.4%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 349.2%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 635.6%
HIV Cases: 8,397
AIDS Cases: 4,613
The West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach metropolitan statistical area is situated in the state of Florida. It ranks as the 16th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US.
15. Jackson, Mississippi
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 493.5%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 318.6%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 668.4%
HIV Cases: 3,287
AIDS Cases: 1,567
Jackson is the capital city of Mississippi and ranks 15th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Jackson City had an AIDS prevalence rate of 318.6% per 100,000 people and an HIV prevalence rate of 668.4% per 100,000 people in 2022. Moreover, there were approximately 3,287 HIV cases and 1,567 AIDS cases in the city in 2022.
14. Newark, New Jersey
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 499.7%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 325%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 674.4%
HIV Cases: 12,944
AIDS Cases: 6,237
Newark is one of the main cities located in the state of New Jersey. It ranks as the 14th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The city had a combined average rate of HIV and AIDS prevalence of 499.7% in 2022. Moreover, there were 12,944 HIV cases and 6,237 AIDS cases in the city during the same year.
13. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC Area
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 509.95%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 364.7%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 655.2%
HIV Cases: 35,113
AIDS Cases: 15,429
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria also known as the DC area ranks as the 13th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The main cities in the Metropolitan Statistical Area include Washington DC, Virginia, and Arlington County. The area had 35,113 HIV cases and 15,429 AIDS cases in 2022.
12. Memphis, Tennessee
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 513.15%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 317.9%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 708.4%
HIV Cases: 7,805
AIDS Cases: 3,503
Memphis is one of the major cities in the state of Tennessee. It ranks as the 12th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The city had a combined average rate of HIV and AIDS prevalence of 513.15% per 100,000 people in 2022.
11. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 530.45%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 360%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 700.9%
HIV Cases: 16,832
AIDS Cases: 8,645
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson is a Metropolitan Statistical Area of Maryland state of the US. It ranks 11th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Some of the major cities in the area include Baltimore City, Columbia, and Towson. The area has 16,832 HIV cases and 8,645 AIDS cases in 2022.
10. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 544%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 358.9%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 729.1%
HIV Cases: 5,331
AIDS Cases: 2,624
Baton Rouge is the capital city of the state of Louisiana that ranks 10th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The city had a combined average rate of HIV and AIDS prevalence of 544% in 2022. Moreover, there were 5,331 HIV cases and 2,624 AIDS cases in the city in 2022.
9. New Orleans, Louisiana
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 578.25%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 384.8%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 771.7%
HIV Cases: 8,141
AIDS Cases: 4,059
New Orleans is a city in Louisiana that ranks 9th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US.
8. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 589.35%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 379.4%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 799.3%
HIV Cases: 41,750
AIDS Cases: 19,819
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta is a Metropolitan Statistical Area in the state of Georgia. The area ranks 8th on our list of cities with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Some of the major cities in the area include Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Johns Creek.
7. New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 623.2%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 432.7%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 813.7%
HIV Cases: 135,864
AIDS Cases: 72,245
New York-Newark-Jersey City is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US in terms of population. New York is the principal city of the area and it ranks as the 7th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US.
6. San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, California
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 746.65%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 518.3%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 975%
HIV Cases: 13,243
AIDS Cases: 7,040
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City is a metropolitan area in the state of California. It ranks as the 6th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. Some of the major cities in the area include San Francisco, San Mateo, Oakland, and Redwood City.
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Average Rate of HIV and AIDS per 100,000: 769.6%
AIDS Rate per 100,000: 526.6%
HIV Rate per 100,000: 1012.6%
HIV Cases: 18,371
AIDS Cases: 9,553
Philadelphia is one of the major cities in the state of Pennsylvania. It ranks as the 5th city with the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the US. The city had 18,371 HIV cases and 9,553 AIDS cases in 2022.