Young Fijians drive HIV surge

Young adults aged 20 to 24 have emerged as the group most affected by Fiji’s worsening HIV epidemic, accounting for almost one-third of all new cases recorded last year. 

The Ministry of Health reported 646 HIV diagnoses among people aged 20 to 24 in 2025, making up 32 per cent of the national total. 

The figure represents a dramatic rise from 429 cases in 2024, 102 in 2023 and just 43 cases in 2022. 

Overall, Fiji recorded 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025 — the highest annual total since national surveillance began. 

The report also highlighted concerns over mother-to-child transmission, with 56 paediatric cases linked to transmission during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding, compared with 32 such cases the previous year. 

There were 117 HIV-related deaths reported in 2025, including 17 among children aged under 15. 

Health officials said the findings pointed to an urgent need for targeted prevention programmes focused on young people, early testing and improved treatment access.