During 2025, a total of 38 newly registered HIV/AIDS cases were reported in North Macedonia, corresponding to a rate of 2.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite the unfavorable situation, when compared with European Union countries, where the rate of new HIV cases in 2024 was 5.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, the situation in the country remains more favorable. In addition, a decrease in new cases compared to 2024 has been recorded.
HIV remains a major global public health challenge. After decades of progress, the global response to HIV stands at a crossroads. Life-saving services are being disrupted, and many communities face increased risks and vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, despite these challenges, the World Health Organization aims to end HIV by 2030. During the marking of World AIDS Day in North Macedonia, under the slogan “Overcoming disruptions, transforming the AIDS response,” a call was made for sustained political leadership, international cooperation, and human-rights-based approaches to end HIV by 2030.
Data also show a 25.5% decrease in the number of new cases compared to the same period in 2024, when 51 new cases were registered.
“Most of the cases registered in 2025—15 in total—are from Skopje, with a rate of 2.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. The remaining cases were reported sporadically across 14 different cities in the country, while one case involves a foreign national. During this year, eight HIV-related deaths were also recorded, some of which refer to cases diagnosed in previous years. Of the 38 newly registered cases, 37 are men and only one is a woman, confirming the continued trend of male dominance among new HIV cases. The average age of those affected is 35 years, ranging from 23 to 64 years, while 73.7% of cases belong to the 20–39 age group, which represents the most sexually active population,” according to the report of the Institute of Public Health.
Although North Macedonia is considered a country with low HIV prevalence, cumulative data indicate a rising trend in recent years. From 1987 until the end of November 2025, a total of 726 HIV/AIDS cases have been registered in the country, with 32% of them diagnosed in the past five years alone.
During the period 1987–2025, a total of 138 people diagnosed with HIV in North Macedonia died from AIDS-related causes, representing a mortality rate of 18.2%.
Experts emphasize that, despite the low prevalence, strengthening testing, early diagnosis, and continuous access to therapy remains essential for curbing the spread of HIV and improving public health in the country.
It is estimated that around 620 people in North Macedonia are living with HIV, not all of whom have been diagnosed
According to data from organizations working in this field, approximately 620 people are estimated to be living with HIV nationwide, but only 71.4% of them have been diagnosed—meaning that three out of ten people do not know they are living with HIV. This fact keeps transmission active and complicates epidemic control.
“Our country must accelerate its response to HIV: nearly one-third of people living with the virus are still undiagnosed. Civil society organizations identify new cases 12 times more effectively than the health system, which is clear evidence that strategic investments in prevention deliver the strongest and fastest results. No citizen should remain invisible or without access to healthcare,” said Olivera Stojkovska, Program Director at HERA – Health Education and Research Association.
Experts also stress that North Macedonia has a real opportunity to fully eliminate the HIV epidemic in the coming years if timely testing becomes widely accessible, prevention is systematically strengthened, and institutions continue joint cooperation with the civil sector.
“Continuous availability of therapy is the most important factor for people living with HIV; it enables a healthy and normal life and prevents further transmission of the virus. This year, for the first time, medications were secured for a 24-month period, significantly reducing the risk of treatment interruptions. However, to truly halt the growth of the epidemic, we must invest in testing and early diagnosis so that every newly diagnosed person can immediately receive modern therapy,” said Andrej Senih, Executive Director of the association supporting people living with HIV, ‘Together Stronger.’
Meanwhile, National HIV Coordinator Milena Stevanoviq, stated that timely testing is the most important tool for achieving the goal of eliminating HIV by 2030, emphasizing that early detection ensures immediate access to therapy and prevents further spread of the virus.
Globally, HIV transmission is present in all countries. It is estimated that by the end of 2024, 40.8 million people were living with HIV worldwide, 65% of whom were in the WHO African Region.
In 2024, approximately 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes, and an estimated 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV.
