Baku, August 13
Azerbaijan’s medical institutions registered 11,844 people living with HIV in 2024, according to the statistical compendium “Healthcare, Social Protection and Housing Conditions in Azerbaijan.”
The figure marks an increase from 10,692 cases in 2023, underscoring what health experts describe as a worrying upward trend. Last year alone, 1,152 people were diagnosed with HIV for the first time — including three under the age of 18. In 2023, new cases totaled 886.
Public health advocates warn that the growth in both total and new HIV cases points to shortcomings in prevention strategies, public awareness campaigns, and early testing efforts. In particular, the presence of minors among newly diagnosed cases raises concerns about the adequacy of sexual education and youth-oriented health services.
Critics argue that HIV prevention policies in Azerbaijan remain too focused on treatment after infection, while underinvesting in outreach to vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, migrants, and marginalized communities. Without targeted interventions — such as wider availability of free, confidential testing and more aggressive public health messaging — the trend may accelerate, further straining the country’s healthcare system.
