04/10/2026
National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) highlights HIV’s disproportionate impact on young people across the United States. This NYHAAD, we are highlighting data on the HIV epidemic’s impact on youth living with or at risk for HIV.
In 2023, young people aged 13-24 accounted for 18% of all new HIV diagnoses nationwide.
HIV disproportionately impacts young people who are Black, with Black youth accounting for 47% of new HIV diagnoses among youth (13-24) in 2023. Black women and girls made up 50% of all young women and girls (aged 13-24) newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023.
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven extremely effective in preventing new HIV diagnoses. In 2024, teenagers and young adults had the greatest unmet need for PrEP among all age groups – for every 1 person between the ages of 13-24 diagnosed with HIV, only 9 people in the same age group use PrEP.
Viral suppression refers to reducing the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) to an undetectable level through consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART). When a person achieves and maintains viral suppression, they stay healthier and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to s*xual partners. In 2023, only 69% of young people living with HIV had achieved viral suppression, falling short of the 2030 Ending the HIV Epidemic goal of 90%.
Factors such as a lack of thorough s*x education and a lack of HIV testing have contributed significantly to youth risk for HIV. In 2023, only 37% of 18–24-year-olds reported having ever been tested for HIV – meaning many people in this age group may be unaware of their HIV status.
