People below the age of 35 account for 60% of new HIV infections in Rwanda, despite recording lower HIV prevalence compared with older age groups, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has revealed.
Dr Basile Ikuzo, the head of the HIV Division at RBC, said the trend remains a concern as the country continues efforts to end HIV transmission.
He made the remarks during an interview with Radio Rwanda on Thursday, July 16, 2026, where he highlighted the need for young people to increase uptake of HIV prevention services.
Although Rwanda has made significant progress in controlling HIV, Dr Ikuzo said new infections are still more common among young people, even though fewer youths are currently living with the virus.
The 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) indicates that HIV prevalence among people aged 15 to 49 is 2.2%, while among those aged 15 to 24 it stands at 0.8%.
However, new infections are increasingly concentrated among people under 35, who account for 60% of all new HIV cases.
Dr Ikuzo explained that many older people living with HIV were diagnosed years ago and are now receiving treatment, while new infections are occurring more frequently among younger populations.
He warned that the trend could become a challenge in the future if urgent measures are not taken to strengthen HIV prevention among young people.
“Although the number of young people living with HIV is still low, they could become the most affected group in the coming years if action is not taken. Their current lifestyles increase the risk of infection, yet many are not making enough use of available prevention services,” Dr Ikuzo said.
The RDHS 2025 report shows that Rwanda’s HIV prevalence has declined steadily over the past two decades. It remained at 3% between 2005 and 2014–2015 before dropping to 2.7% in 2019–2020 and further declining to 2.2% in 2025.
Rwanda has also surpassed the global 95-95-95 HIV targets, with 96% of people living with HIV aware of their status, 98% receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 98% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.
