Overview
The first reported cases of HIV/AIDS in Malaysia were in 1986. Since that time, there are now over 100,000 reported cases of HIV infections in the country, and over 16,000 people have died from AIDS as of December 2013.
The epidemic in this country is concentrated within injecting drug users (IDU), sex workers (SW), transgender (TG) and men who have sex with men (MSM) communities. At the end of 2012, Malaysia was estimated to 81,900 people living with HIV (PLHIV) since the first case was detected 27 years ago. In 2013 3,393 new HIV infections were reported, which means that every day almost 10 Malaysians become HIV infected.
The majority of new HIV infections are found in young adults aged 20 to 29 (31% of cases in 2013) and those aged 30 to 39 (35% of cases in 2013). It is important to note that around 66% of new HIV infections are found in adults aged 20-39, which is concerning since this is the age range in which citizens are most productive. As the epidemic progresses we also note an increasing percentage of middle-aged people living with HIV.
In Malaysia, we see a higher rate of HIV transmission through sexual transmission (74% of cases in 2013) versus injecting drug use (22%). The official number of infections transmitted through heterosexual intercourse has increased from 45% of cases in 2012 to 51% of cases in 2013.
The number of HIV positive women has been increasing as well. In 2001, the ratio of HIV positive men versus HIV positive women was 10:1, but in 2013 this ration has dramatically changes to 4:1.
Statistics
- The majority people living with HIV in Malaysia are men, but the ratio is decreasing.
- 70% of new HIV infections in 2013 were Malay.
- Every day almost 10 Malaysians are diagnosed HIV positive
- 31% of newly reported cases in Malaysia are in their twenties
- In 2013, Malaysia marked more than 100,000 people diagnosed with HIV since the first case in 1986.
- AIDS has caused the deaths of more than 13,000 Malaysians
Get Tested if you want to know your status – call 03.4044.4611 to make an appointment. More recent information on the HIV and AIDS statistics in Malaysia.
Number of New HIV Infections, AIDS Cases and AIDS Deaths by Gender Per Year Reported in Malaysia
(From 1986 until 2010)
| YEAR | HIV INFECTION | AIDS CASES | AIDS DEATH | ||||||
| Male | Female | TOTAL | Male | Female | TOTAL | Male | Female | TOTAL | |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | 197 | 3 | 200 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 769 | 9 | 778 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1991 | 1741 | 53 | 1794 | 58 | 2 | 60 | 10 | 9 | 19 |
| 1992 | 2443 | 69 | 2512 | 70 | 3 | 73 | 44 | 2 | 46 |
| 1993 | 2441 | 66 | 2507 | 64 | 7 | 71 | 50 | 5 | 55 |
| 1994 | 3289 | 104 | 3393 | 98 | 7 | 105 | 74 | 6 | 80 |
| 1995 | 4037 | 161 | 4198 | 218 | 15 | 233 | 150 | 15 | 165 |
| 1996 | 4406 | 191 | 4597 | 327 | 20 | 347 | 259 | 12 | 271 |
| 1997 | 3727 | 197 | 3924 | 538 | 30 | 568 | 449 | 24 | 473 |
| 1998 | 4327 | 297 | 4624 | 818 | 57 | 875 | 655 | 34 | 689 |
| 1999 | 4312 | 380 | 4692 | 1114 | 86 | 1200 | 824 | 50 | 874 |
| 2000 | 4626 | 481 | 5107 | 1071 | 97 | 1168 | 825 | 57 | 882 |
| 2001 | 5472 | 466 | 5938 | 1188 | 114 | 1302 | 900 | 75 | 975 |
| 2002 | 6349 | 629 | 6978 | 1068 | 125 | 1193 | 823 | 64 | 887 |
| 2003 | 6083 | 673 | 6756 | 939 | 137 | 1076 | 633 | 67 | 700 |
| 2004 | 5731 | 696 | 6427 | 1002 | 146 | 1148 | 951 | 114 | 1065 |
| 2005 | 5383 | 737 | 6120 | 1044 | 177 | 1221 | 882 | 102 | 984 |
| 2006 | 4955 | 875 | 5830 | 1620 | 222 | 1842 | 896 | 80 | 976 |
| 2007 | 3804 | 745 | 4549 | 937 | 193 | 1130 | 1048 | 131 | 1179 |
| 2008 | 2988 | 704 | 3692 | 795 | 146 | 941 | 786 | 114 | 900 |
| 2009 | 2527 | 553 | 3080 | 622 | 119 | 741 | 184 | 621 | 805 |
| 2010 | 2984 | 668 | 3652 | 868 | 167 | 1035 | 782 | 122 | 904 |
| TOTAL | 82,603 | 8,759 | 91,362 | 14,482 | 1,870 | 16,352 | 11,239 | 1,704 | 12,943 |
Total Number of HIV/AIDS Cases and Related Deaths Reported in Malaysia
(From 1986 to 2010)
Total Number of HIV/AIDS Cases and Related Deaths Reported in Malaysia
(1986 – 2008,2009 and 2010)
Click here to download the more detail statistic report in pdf file format
Source: AIDS/STI Unit, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Prepare by: Resource Center. Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC)
Red Book – Policy and Your Rights
The Malaysian Bar Council has published booklets detailing an individual’s rights and obligations during basic encounters with the police. This book, launched by Minister Nazri Aziz, is writ ten in plain language and is available in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.
Download Links: English version, Malay version, Chinese version.