AIDS is a worldwide epidemic. UNAIDS estimated that in 2004:

• 39.4 million people were HIV carriers (64% in sub-Saharan Africa)
• 3.1 million people with AIDS died during 2004 (23 million dead since 1981); and
• 4.9 million were newly infected with HIV

The CDC reported the following trends in the USA, as of December 2003:

• About 1,100,000 US residents were living with HIV infection
• 406,000 people were living with AIDS
• 360,000 patients currently receive anti-HIV treatment i.e. less than 1/3 of those with HIV
• 50,000 patients start treatment each year
• About 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year, about 70 percent among men and 30 percent among women.  Of these newly infected people, half are under 25 years old.