Australia hits global HIV target but First Nations diagnoses remain twice as
Australia achieved global HIV targets for the first time, but First Nations diagnoses remain almost twice the rate of other Australians.
Australia has cut HIV diagnoses by a quarter over the past decade, reaching a major public health milestone. The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney reports 753 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2025.
The nation has now achieved the global 95-95-95 targets: 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 per cent on treatment have undetectable viral loads.
Australia is among a small group of countries on track to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030. First Nations Australians were diagnosed at a rate of 3.9 per 100,000 population compared with 2.1 per 100,000 among other Australians.
Researchers say longstanding barriers to culturally safe healthcare continue to block access to prevention, testing and treatment. Overseas-born gay and bisexual men also remain at high risk, particularly those from South-East Asia.
One-third of all diagnoses in 2025 were classified as late.
- 753
- 2025 diagnoses
- 3.9 per 100,000 population
- First Nations diagnosis rate
- 2.1 per 100,000 population
- Other Australians diagnosis rate
- One-third of all diagnoses
- Late diagnoses in 2025
Why it mattersThe disparity shows that national success masks unequal progress: some Australians are still missing out on prevention and early treatment despite the system achieving global targets.
AustraliaAustralian public health has reached a major milestone, but health policy must now address why First Nations and overseas-born communities continue to face barriers to testing and care.
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