Georgia joined the global community in overseeing the 42nd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 18, the 29th time calling for awareness, solidarity, and action against HIV/AIDS.
This year’s theme, “Remember, Act, Fight for the Future,” pointed to the dual purpose of the day, honoring over 40 million lives lost to AIDS and seeking to inspire collective efforts to end the epidemic by 2030.
“We must break the barriers of stigma and ensure every person with HIV is identified, treated, and supported,” the event’s organizers emphasized. Despite medical advances, only 85% of those living with HIV globally are aware of their status, and just 75% of the diagnosed are currently on antiretroviral therapy (ARV).
A total of 11,218 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Georgia as of May 18, 2025: 8,409 men and 2,809 women. Among them, 2,402 have died, and 6,900 are receiving ARV treatment. This year alone, 212 new cases have been identified.
Transmission remains concentrated, with 53% of infections resulting from heterosexual contact, 30% from injecting drug use, and 14% among men who have sex with men (MSM). The remaining cases are related to mother-to-child transmission (1.1%), blood transfusions (0.4%), or undetermined causes (0.9%). The majority of cases are found in Tbilisi, followed by Samegrelo, Adjara, and Imereti.
Georgia is currently classified as a country with a concentrated but stable HIV/AIDS epidemic.
