Lagos State recorded 10,430 new HIV infections in 2025, the highest among Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025.
National HIV Statistics for 2025
Nigeria reported a total of 102,025 new HIV infections during the year, highlighting the continued burden of the virus despite ongoing prevention and treatment efforts. The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of newly reported cases.
Top 10 States with Highest New HIV Infections
The states with the highest numbers of newly recorded HIV infections are:
- Lagos – 10,430
- Rivers – 6,287
- Kano – 6,106
- Akwa Ibom – 5,413
- Taraba – 4,854
- Benue – 4,804
- Anambra – 4,468
- Kaduna – 3,659
- Adamawa – 2,989
- Federal Capital Territory – 2,764
Other States with Significant New Infections
Several other states recorded more than 2,000 new HIV infections in 2025. These include Cross River (2,595), Sokoto (2,592), Abia (2,546), Imo (2,537), Delta (2,469), Borno (2,311), Ogun (2,107), Plateau (2,084), Niger (2,020), and Ebonyi (2,015).
States with Lowest New Infections
At the lower end of the ranking, Ekiti State recorded the fewest newly reported HIV infections with 462 cases. It was followed by Bayelsa (982), Gombe (1,083), Osun (1,093), Kwara (1,371), Enugu (1,429), Yobe (1,483), Katsina (1,541), and Kebbi (1,572).
Expert Commentary and Context
Health experts say the figures represent newly reported cases and should not be interpreted as the overall HIV prevalence in each state. Factors such as population size, urbanisation, and access to HIV testing services can influence the number of cases detected. Nigeria's national adult HIV prevalence remains about 1.3%, with an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV, according to the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. The report comes amid renewed calls by health experts for sustained investment in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment programmes.
