BANGKOK – New figures from the Disease Control Department under the Ministry of Public Health show HIV diagnoses climbing again, with young people hit hardest. Thailand reported 13,357 new HIV diagnoses nationwide last year.
That brought the total number of people living with HIV to 547,556. Most concerning, 35% of new infections occurred in people ages 15-24, which signals a growing risk for teens and young adults.
Health teams link most transmissions, about 96.4%, to unprotected sex. At the same time, many reports describe changing sexual habits among young people, including less condom use and a belief that HIV is now easy to manage because treatment has improved.
While some partial-year updates for 2025 suggest overall new infections have leveled off or dropped (roughly 8,800 to 10,000 in early data), the high share among youth remains a serious public health issue.
Youth Now Carry a Larger Share of New HIV Cases
Several trends appear to be driving the jump among 15- to 24-year-olds. Experts point to earlier sexual activity, more casual partners, and social pressure to take risks. Dating apps also make it easier to meet quickly, which can lead to sex without planning for protection.
In addition, some young Thais see antiretroviral therapy (ART) as turning HIV into a long-term condition, so they worry less about getting infected.
In some areas, including Chiang Mai, projections still show dozens of new cases per month. Across the country, higher risk remains among key groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and people involved in sex work. Even so, the increase among youth reaches beyond any one group.
Deputy Public Health Minister Chaichana Dechdecho has raised the issue in Senate discussions. He has said national progress continues, yet youth infections are rising fast because unsafe sex remains common. In response, groups such as Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Thailand have run campaigns like “Just Use It” to encourage condom use and HIV awareness.
How Thailand’s Sex Industry Still Connects to HIV Risk
Thailand’s sex industry has long shaped HIV trends, especially in major tourist areas such as Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, HIV spread quickly among brothel-based sex workers and their clients. Infection levels rose sharply until prevention efforts expanded.
In 1991, the government introduced the “100% Condom Program,” which required condom use in commercial sex venues. After that, condom use reportedly climbed from about 14% to more than 90% in the years that followed. As a result, HIV transmission linked to sex work dropped, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) fell too.
Still, sex work has changed over time. Traditional brothels play a smaller role, but indirect venues (massage parlors, bars, and freelance work) remain, and online arranging is common. When protection slips, risk rises, especially for young migrants and people working informally. Today, sex work is not seen as the main driver of new HIV cases, with more spread tied to MSM networks and casual sex, yet the history shows why steady prevention work matters.
How People Can Prevent HIV in Thailand
HIV prevention remains simple, and Thailand offers many options through public hospitals, community clinics, and key population-led programs.
Key ways to lower risk include:
- Use condoms every time: Condoms (latex or polyurethane) plus water-based lubricant help prevent HIV during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Many public hospitals, clinics, and drop-in centers provide free condoms.
- Test on a regular schedule: Free or low-cost HIV testing is available at government clinics, community sites, and through self-testing kits. Early diagnosis also helps people start treatment sooner and reduce the chance of passing HIV to others.
- Use PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): Daily oral PrEP (tenofovir/emtricitabine) can cut HIV risk by over 99% when taken as directed. Thailand added PrEP under Universal Health Coverage in 2019, and access continues to expand through hospitals and key population-led health services (KPLHS). Long-acting options such as injectable cabotegravir or lenacapavir are also being tested in pilot programs.
- Get PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) after possible exposure: After unprotected sex or needle sharing, people should seek PEP within 72 hours, and sooner is better. Hospitals can provide a 28-day course that may prevent infection.
- Reduce risk during sex: Fewer partners and clear talks about protection can help. Alcohol and drugs can also lead to unsafe choices, so avoiding mixing them with sex lowers risk.
- Don’t share needles: People who inject drugs should use sterile equipment and connect with harm reduction services.
Public messages often focus on combined prevention, which means PrEP, condoms, and routine testing together. In many provinces, youth-friendly clinics and one-stop services also offer support in a setting that aims to reduce shame and fear.
What Comes Next, and Why Youth Prevention Needs More Attention
Thailand has made steady progress in its HIV response, and the country funds much of the work at home. It also targets fewer than 1,000 new infections a year by 2030. Even so, the rise in youth infections shows where gaps remain.
Stigma still blocks testing and care. Sex education can also be limited, and PrEP awareness remains uneven in many communities. Because of this, health agencies continue to push stronger school-based education, better outreach on social platforms, and easier access to youth services.
Treatment also offers hope. When people take ART and reach an undetectable viral load, they can’t pass HIV through sex. With prevention tools already available, public health leaders stress that stopping new infections depends on action, which means testing, protection, and using free support services when needed. “HIV is preventable, knowledge and action save lives,” one health official said.
