HIV in Scotland
Update to 31 December 2025

About this release

This annual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents an update on Scotland's progress towards human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission elimination targets by providing data on the uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV testing, HIV diagnoses, access to specialist HIV care and uptake of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in Scotland.

Main points

• Overall, Scotland continues to make good progress towards national and international HIV transmission elimination targets. As of 31 December 2025, an estimated 6,669 people were living with HIV in Scotland. Of 94% (6,269) diagnosed, 92% (5,749/6,269) received ART from 1 July 2024 - 31 December 2025, and 98% (5,634/5,749) had a suppressed viral load.

This is a cascading bar chart that includes arrows between bars to illustrate what proportion of an indicator made up the previous group. For example, of the estimated number of people living with HIV in Scotland, 94% were estimated to be diagnosed with HIV, and of this 94%, 92% were estimated to be receiving ART, of which, 98% were estimated to have suppressed viral load.

Close

Number of people (i) estimated to be living with HIV; (ii) diagnosed and living with HIV; (iii) receiving ART, and (iv) with a suppressed viral load to 31 December 2025

* Further details and the methodology applied are available in the main report.

• In 2025, 2,395 people accessed PrEP for the first time – an average of 200 people per month.

• Since 2019, the overall number of HIV tests conducted and the number of people tested has increased; however, testing in sexual and reproductive health services, general practice and drug services has not yet returned to 2019 levels.

• An overall downward trend has been observed in the annual number of first-ever HIV diagnoses recorded in Scotland since 2019 although a small increase was noted in 2025.

• In 2025, the largest proportion (48%) of first-ever diagnoses was acquired via heterosexual sex, a consistent picture since 2022 when diagnoses in this group exceeded those among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men for the first time since 2007.

• Since 2019, HIV acquisitions thought to have occurred in Scotland have more than halved.

• Between 2024 and 2025, recent HIV acquisitions (likely acquired within 3 to 4 months of diagnosis) decreased among people tested for antibody avidity (from 21% to 15%).

• In 2025, approximately one third of first-ever diagnoses (39/132) were made at a late stage, over half of which were at a very late stage (59%, 23/39) (i.e. with advanced HIV disease).

• In the 18 months prior to 31 December 2025, 5% (334 people) of Scotland's cohort of people diagnosed and living with HIV had not attended HIV specialist services for treatment or care.

Background

HIV attacks the immune system, causing a chronic, lifelong infection which can be managed successfully by ART. HIV can be transmitted through condomless vaginal and anal sex, sharing injecting equipment and from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. Untreated HIV progresses to advanced HIV disease or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). People diagnosed with HIV and on ART are able to live long, healthy lives. HIV PrEP is highly effective for preventing sexual acquisition of HIV.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be Autumn 2027.