Rwanda recorded 2,555 new HIV infections in 2024, down from 2,922 cases in 2023, according to data obtained from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). This marks a 12.5 per cent decline that underscores continued progress in the country’s prevention and treatment efforts, officials said. ALSO READ: Govt reassures HIV patients as external funding ends Among individuals aged 15 years and above, reductions in new HIV infections were observed across all provinces in 2024 compared to the previous year. Eastern Province recorded a decline from 650 new infections in 2023 to 570 in 2024. In Northern Province, new infections dropped from 310 to 240 over the same period. Southern Province registered a reduction from 560 to 460 cases, while Western Province saw new infections fall from 550 to 420. ALSO READ: Rwanda ranks high in terms of access to ARVs The City of Kigali, which continues to account for a significant share of reported cases due to high population density and mobility, also registered progress. New infections in the capital declined from 660 in 2023 to 530 in 2024. The New Times got sex-disaggregated data showing that women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections, although declines were recorded for both women and men. In 2023, women accounted for 1,851 of the new HIV infections, compared to 1,071 among men. While the numbers decreased in 2024, the pattern remained similar, with 1,643 new infections recorded among women and 913 among men. ALSO READ: Why HIV infections among young people remain alarmingly high Commenting on the findings, Mireille Joyce Umurerwa, the senior officer in charge of HIV prevention methods at RBC, said the decline reflects the impact of targeted, evidence-based interventions rolled out nationwide. “The reduction in new HIV infections across all provinces and population groups shows that prevention strategies such as early testing, consistent treatment, and focused support for key populations are working,” Umurerwa told The New Times. ALSO READ: Clarity on HIV treatment continuation is important despite halt in USAID funding The data also highlight progress in the management of HIV among sero-discordant couples, where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is negative. In 2024, the number of such couples enrolled in care increased to 24,684. During the same period, only 23 seroconversions were recorded, demonstrating the effectiveness of sustained prevention measures, including consistent antiretroviral therapy, viral load suppression, and regular follow-up. “The low number of seroconversions among sero-discordant couples enrolled in care also demonstrates the effectiveness of treatment as prevention when services are accessed and maintained,” said Umurerwa. In November 2025, the RBC reported some 222,000 people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) under government-supported programmes.
