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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202000-174
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 10, 2000Contact: Abigail Smith
DURBAN, South Africa - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today presented new data documenting the tremendous demographic impact AIDS is having on the developing world. The AIDS Pandemic in the 21st Century: The Demographic Impact in Developing Countries was released at a USAID press conference at the XIII International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa. The study was conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, on behalf of USAID.
AIDS is the number one cause of death in Africa and the fourth globally. In four countries, at least 25 percent of adults are living with HIV/AIDS. In seven sub-Saharan African countries, at least one out of five adults is living with HIV/AIDS and in an additional nine sub-Saharan African countries, one out of ten adults is HIV-positive. Among the major findings in the report:
The AIDS pandemic in the 21st century continues to have its greatest impact in the developing world. Seventy-one percent of the world's HIV-positive people live in sub-Saharan Africa, although that region only contains 11 percent of the world's population. Over 8.6 percent of all adults in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV-positive, compared with 0.6 percent of Americans. Seven countries now have an estimated HIV rate of 20 percent or greater: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In an additional nine countries, more that 10 percent of adults are HIV-positive.
By the year 2003, Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be experiencing negative population growth, ranging from -0.1 to -0.3. Without AIDS, the growth rates would have been between 1.1 and 2.3. This negative population growth is due to the high levels of HIV prevalence in these countries and relatively low fertility. Five other countries in sub-Saharan Africa will be experiencing a growth rate of nearly zero. Without AIDS, these countries would have been experiencing a growth rate of 2 percent or greater.
Many countries will see life expectancies falling to 30-40 years of age instead of 50-60 years. In 2010, many countries in southern Africa will see life expectancies falling to near 30 years of age, levels not seen since the beginning of the 20th century. In Botswana, life expectancy is now 39 instead of 71. Six sub-Saharan African countries have life expectancies below 40 years; life expectancy would have been 50 years or greater without AIDS. By 2010, many countries in southern Africa will see life expectancies falling to near 30 years of age: Botswana (29), Namibia (33), Swaziland (30) and Zimbabwe (33). AIDS mortality will continue to result in falling life expectancies in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia.
In some sub-Saharan countries, infant mortality rates are now higher than they were in 1990. AIDS mortality has reversed the declines that had been occurring during the 1980s and early 1990s. Over 30 percent of all children born to HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa will be HIV-positive either through the birth process or due to breastfeeding. In four countries of sub-Saharan Africa, more infants will die from AIDS in 2010 than from all other causes. In Botswana and Zimbabwe, twice as many infants will die from AIDS than from all other causes.
Since 1986, USAID has dedicated over $1.4 billion dollars to the prevention and mitigation of this epidemic in the developing world. USAID's HIV/AIDS budget of $200 million for 2000 is four times as great as the next-largest donor's budget. USAID is working in 46 of the hardest hit countries around the world. Nearly 70 percent of USAID's HIV/AIDS program assistance goes to small non-governmental organizations that have direct connections to the poorest citizens and those most vulnerable to infection.
The AIDS Pandemic in the 21st Century: The Demographic Impact in Developing Countries is available at www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International Development is the U.S. government agency that provides development and humanitarian assistance worldwide.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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