Nearly 4,000 People Living With HIV in Bahamas — 156 New Cases Reported in 2024

Nassau, Bahamas — Nearly 4,000 people are living with HIV in the Bahamas, health officials revealed, as the country recorded 156 new cases of the virus in 2024.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Michael Darville, announced at a press conference that 3,988 people were living with HIV at the end of 2024, which represents approximately 1.1 per cent of the population. Darville also highlighted that since 2010, there has been a 47 per cent decrease in new HIV infections.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes, Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme, provided more details, noting that residents of New Providence accounted for the majority of new cases at 82 per cent, followed by Grand Bahama at 10 per cent, and other islands contributing the remaining 8 per cent.

Men made up 63 per cent of the infections last year.

The data also showed that the age group 30–39 represented the largest share of infections at 36 per cent, while those aged 40–49 accounted for 19 per cent, persons 50 and older for 17 per cent, and young people 15–24 for 14 per cent.

One case of mother-to-child transmission was also reported in 2024.