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Around 30,000 People Living with HIV in Turkey as Cases Continue to Rise
Across Turkey, tens of thousands of people are living with HIV as the country confronts a growing HIV epidemic that contrasts sharply with the declining trends seen in many parts of the world. While precise figures vary by source and year, estimates suggest that around 30,000 people in Turkey have been diagnosed with HIV since the first cases were recorded in the mid-1980s.
The Increasing Burden of HIV in Turkey
HIV was first identified in Turkey in 1985, and for decades the number of diagnosed cases remained relatively low compared with many other countries. However, public health data and expert analyses show that HIV diagnoses have risen sharply in recent years. Between 1985 and the end of 2021, official laboratory data reported more than 30,000 people testing positive for HIV — and this figure has continued to climb as testing expands and awareness rises.
Experts and health authorities believe the actual number of people living with HIV may be higher than official counts, as many individuals remain undiagnosed due to limited testing uptake and stigma.
A Trend Going in the Opposite Direction of Global Patterns
While globally HIV infection rates have been falling thanks to prevention efforts and widespread access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), Turkey’s epidemic has been expanding. Over the past decade alone, the number of recorded HIV infections in the country has reportedly quadrupled, with thousands of new diagnoses reported each year.
In some reports, health officials noted that annual new cases have grown from under 500 to between 5,000 and 6,000 new diagnoses per year in recent periods — a trend that public health specialists describe as worrying.
Who Is Affected?
The rise in HIV cases is seen across age groups, but young adults — particularly those aged 25 to 34 — account for many new diagnoses. In official surveillance data, the majority of recorded cases have been among men, with estimates suggesting more than 80 % of diagnosed individuals are male.
Transmission in Turkey, as in many countries, occurs through unprotected sexual contact as the predominant route, with smaller proportions linked to injection drug use or other exposure routes.
Challenges in Testing, Treatment, and Stigma
A key issue in Turkey’s HIV response has been late diagnosis and gaps in testing coverage — partly driven by societal stigma surrounding HIV and sexuality that discourages people from seeking testing or care. NGOs and advocates frequently highlight that fear of discrimination in healthcare, employment, and social circles remains a barrier to effective outreach.
Although antiretroviral treatment is available and can enable people living with HIV to live long, healthy lives with viral suppression, access to testing, counselling, and consistent treatment is less widespread than needed. Experts say persistent stigma and lack of widespread sexual health education have slowed progress.
Public Health Responses and Awareness Efforts
Turkish health authorities, civil society groups, and international partners have been working to expand HIV testing, improve prevention messaging, and reduce stigma. Efforts include campaigns during HIV Testing Awareness Weeks, community outreach, and collaborations with NGOs that support people living with HIV and those at higher risk.
These initiatives aim to ensure people know their status and can access antiretroviral therapy (ART) — treatment that reduces the virus in the blood to undetectable levels, preventing progression to AIDS and dramatically lowering the risk of transmission.
Looking Forward: A Critical Health Priority
Turkey’s experience underscores how HIV remains a dynamic public health issue even as global prevention successes have reduced rates in many regions. For the country to curb rising infections, public health experts stress the importance of:
• Expanding accessible and confidential HIV testing, particularly among young people and key populations.
• Strengthening linkage to care and treatment continuity for people who test positive.
• Reducing stigma and discrimination in healthcare and society at large.
• Increasing public education on sexual health and prevention methods.
As more people are diagnosed and seek treatment, the estimated 30,000 people living with HIV in Turkey reflect both improved detection and the ongoing need for proactive prevention and care strategies to ensure HIV does not continue its upward trend.
Attached is a news article regarding 30,000 Turkish people with HIV
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/amp/aids-patients-in-turkey-rise-522-percent-in-10-years-104437
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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