Skopje, 30 November 2025 (MIA) - North Macedonia has registered 38 new cases of HIV/AIDS in 2025, as of November 27, shows a report published by the country’s Institute for Public Health (IPH) on occasion of December 1 – World AIDS Day.

The IPH notes this represents an incidence of 2.1 per 100.000 inhabitants. For comparison, in EU/EEA countries the incidence rate in 2024 was 5.3 per 100.000 inhabitants.

The number of new cases in 2025 has dropped by 25.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024, when the country registered 51 new cases.

Most of the cases registered in 2025 are in Skopje, with an incidence rate of 2.5/100.000 inhabitants. The remaining cases have been registered as sporadic cases in 14 cities in the country. One of the cases registered in 2025 is a foreign national. 

Out of the 38 new cases, 37 are male and one is female. The average age of the new cases is 35, ranging from 23 to 64, and 73.7 percent of cases are between 20 and 39 years of age.

In 2025, the country recorded eight AIDS-related deaths.

From the analysis of the available data for the registered cases, the Institute notes that regarding the probable risk of acquiring HIV infection, five individuals were registered with heterosexual transmission and 29 individuals were men who have sex with men. 

726 cases of HIV/AIDS in North Macedonia from 1987 to 2025 

In the report, the IPH underscores that North Macedonia is a country with low HIV prevalence. From 1987 to 2025, 726 cases of HIV/AIDS have been registered, but in recent years an upward trend has been observed, with 32 percent of all cases recorded in the last five years. 

Cumulatively, of the registered cases, 655 (90.2 percent) are male and 70 (9.6 percent) are female.

The average age of registered cases at the time of diagnosis is 34 years (range 0–85 years). The age distribution indicates that the most affected are sexually active individuals aged 20–39, who account for nearly three-quarters of diagnosed cases (73%, n=530). Young people aged up to 19 years make up less than 2 percent.

A total of 138 diagnosed individuals died from AIDS-related causes in the country between 1987 and 2025, representing a mortality rate of 18.2 percent.

With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, the survival of people living with HIV has significantly improved. In the last 10 years, out of 447 registered cases, 33 deaths have been recorded, representing a mortality rate of 7.4 percent. Cumulatively, the largest number of cases are residents of Skopje.

By mode of transmission, the majority of cases (62.1 percent) are among men who have sex with men, while heterosexual transmission has been recorded in 229 cases. 

Around 44.1 million people have died from HIV/AIDS-related causes globally

So far, around 44.1 million deaths from HIV/AIDS-related causes have been registered worldwide, and transmission of the virus has been recorded in all countries globally.

It is estimated that by the end of 2024, 40.8 million people were living with HIV, 65 percent of whom are in the WHO African Region.

In 2024, about 630.000 people died from HIV-related causes, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV.

There is currently no cure for HIV infection. However, with access to effective prevention, diagnosis, antiretroviral treatment, and HIV care, including care for opportunistic infections, HIV infection has become a chronic health condition, enabling people with HIV to lead long and healthy lives.

On December 1, the World Health Organization joins partners and communities in marking World AIDS Day 2025 under the theme “Overcoming Disruptions, Transforming the AIDS Response,” calling for continued political leadership, international cooperation, and human rights-based approaches to end AIDS by 2030. 

Photo: IPH