• Current Worldwide Statistics*
  • 4.9 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2004. 4.3 million of these are adults, 2.0 million women, and 640,000 children under age 15.
  • At the end of 2004 there were 39.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS, 37.2 million adults, 17.6 million women and 2.2 million children under age 15.
  • In 2004 there were 3.1 million deaths due to HIV/AIDS. 2.6 million were adults & 510,000 children under age 15.
  • An estimate 20 million people have died since the beginning of the epidemic.
  • Women are becoming increasingly affected by HIV. Approximately 47% or 17.6 million of 37.2 million adults living with HIV or AIDS worldwide are women.
  • More than 95% of all HIV-infected people live in the developing world, which has likewise experienced 95% of all deaths from AIDS.
  • Of 39.4 million infected individuals worldwide, 25.4 million reside in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Current Statistics in the United States*
  • Estimates suggest that 950,000 Americans were living with HIV at the end of 2003, with approximately 32,000 new infections occurring each year.
  • Of those living with HIV/AIDS, 36% are white, 42% black, 20% Hispanic and 2% others.
  • Of those living with HIV/AIDS, 77% are men, of which causes of infection were
    • 58% from having sex with men
    • 22% from injection drug use
    • 8% from having sex with men combined with injection drug use and
    • 11% from heterosexual sex.
  • Of women living with HIV/AIDS, causes of infection were
    • 63% from heterosexual contact and
    • 35% from injection drug use.

*Statistics were taken from The Rotary AIDS Project site.

The department has produced the video AIDS in the Jewish Community: A Synagogue Response and an accompanying study guide that examines how to teach issues of sexuality. We continue to make the Union for Reform Judaism AIDS Quilt available to congregations for display and programs.

More information will be available shortly. If you have a specific request, please contact the Department of Jewish Family Concerns.