People living with HIV disease are, on average, poorer than the general population, and Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients are poorer still. For them, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is the payor of last resort because they are uninsured or have inadequate insurance and cannot cover the costs of care on their own, and because no other source of payment for services, public or private, is available.

Most Ryan White clients are from a racial or ethnic minority group. In 2006, more than 70% of clients served by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program were people of color. In 2006, 66% of clients were male and 33% were female.

Additional information on the evolving epidemic, data on client demographics, programs, services, as well as individual stories of Ryan White clients whose lives have been affected by the disease, can be found in the Ryan White Progress Reports.