HIV in Canada: 2023 surveillance highlights

Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Published: 2024

From: Public Health Agency of Canada

• 2,434 new HIV diagnoses in 2023 (35.2% increase since 2022)
• National rate of new HIV diagnoses for 2023 – 6.1 per 100,000 population

2023 Data Notes

• Data for 2023 excludes cases that have been previously diagnosed outside of Canada (e.g. prior to immigration) or in another province/territory, when known.
• Data presented do not account for age and sex rate variations between provinces and territories.
• If discrepancies exist between data summarized and provincial or territorial reports, the most recent provincial or territorial report should be utilized.
• TR: Territories, AT: Atlantic provinces

New diagnosis rate per 100,000 population in 2023, by province or territory

• Provincial and territorial HIV diagnosis rates:
  • Territories – 2.2
  • British Columbia – 3.3
  • Alberta – 5.4
  • Saskatchewan – 19.4
  • Manitoba – 19.3
  • Ontario – 6.0
  • Quebec – 5.4
  • Atlantic – 2.4

Number and rate (per 100,000 population) of new HIV diagnoses, by sex

• 1,625 new HIV diagnoses in males – Rate of 8.1
• 791 new HIV diagnoses in females – Rate of 3.9

Rates per 100,000 population of new HIV diagnoses, by age group and sex

• Overall:
  • Children <15 years of age – 0.2
  • 15-19 years of age – 1.2
  • 20-24 years of age – 7.0
  • 25-29 years of age – 13.9
  • 30-39 years of age – 14.3
  • 40-59 years of age – 8.6
  • ≥60 years of age – 1.1
• In males:
  • Children <15 years of age – 0.2
  • 15-19 years of age – 1.3
  • 20-24 years of age – 9.1
  • 25-29 years of age – 19.1
  • 30-39 years of age – 19.1
  • 40-59 years of age – 11.0
  • ≥60 years of age – 1.5
• In females:
  • Children <15 years of age – 0.2
  • 15-19 years of age – 1.1
  • 20-24 years of age – 4.6
  • 25-29 years of age – 7.9
  • 30-39 years of age – 9.0
  • 40-59 years of age – 6.2
  • ≥60 years of age – 0.7

Distribution of new HIV diagnoses, by mutually exclusive exposure category and sex

• Overall:
  • Male-to-male sexual contact – 36.0%
  • Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use – 4.5%
  • Injection drug use – 18.2%
  • Heterosexual contact – 39.4%
  • Other – 2.0%
• In males:
  • Male-to-male sexual contact – 52.2%
  • Male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use – 6.5%
  • Injection drug use – 13.6%
  • Heterosexual contact – 26.5%
  • Other – 1.3%
• In females:
  • Injection drug use – 28.4%
  • Heterosexual contact – 68.1%
  • Other – 3.5%

Perinatal HIV Surveillance in 2023

• 247 infants born to people living with HIV.
• 97.1% of pregnant people living with HIV received perinatal antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• 5 infants were born with HIV transmitted perinatally: 3 were born to pregnant people living with HIV who did not receive any ART, and 2 were born to people who received some or partial ART.
• Based on sentinel surveillance representing 95% of infants who were exposed to HIV.

Data Sources

National HIV Surveillance System (HASS), Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance System (CPHSP), Statistics Canada