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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202002-068
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2002Contact: USAID Press Office
BARCELONA, SPAIN - The U.S. Census Bureau, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, released a study Sunday showing that life expectancies will drop in 51 countries due to the global AIDS pandemic.
Seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa have life expectancies of less than 40 years of age. In Botswana, for example, life expectancy is only 39 years, while it would have been 72, if it were not for AIDS. This means that the majority of Botswanans on average will live 30 years less than they would have if not for the AIDS pandemic.
This trend is also seen in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean although due to lower HIV prevalence levels, the impact is not as great. In Haiti, life expectancy is now 51, while it would have been 59, if it were not for AIDS. In Asia, Thailand, Cambodia and Burma have lost between two and five years of life expectancy.
In 2010, 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will see life expectancies fall to near 30 years, levels not seen since the end of the 19th century. In a region that would have estimated life expectancies to reach 70 years of age by 2010, Botswana's life expectancy will be 27 years, Swaziland, 33 years and Namibia and Zambia, 34 years.
The AIDS Pandemic in the 21st Century, a review of the demographic impact of AIDS, was released at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain. This report is produced bi-annually by the Census Bureau on behalf of USAID.
"The AIDS pandemic is dramatically changing the demographic makeup of African countries," said Karen Stanecki, author of the report and Chief of the Health Studies Branch, International Programs Center, Census Bureau. "Unfortunately, many African countries are only beginning to see the impact of these high levels of HIV prevalence."
Other findings in the report include:
Five countries will experience negative population growth by 2010. By 2010, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa will have negative population growth, meaning that more people will be dying than babies will be born. In addition, Zimbabwe and Namibia will experience a population growth rate of close to zero.
Infant mortality rates in some countries are higher than 1990. AIDS mortality has reversed the declines that had been occurring during the 1980s and early 1990s. For example, in Swaziland and Zimbabwe, AIDS has nearly doubled the infant mortality rate, compared to what it would have been without AIDS.
More infants will die from AIDS in four countries in 2010 than all other causes. In Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia, more infants will die of AIDS than from all other causes. Although overall infant mortality rates are projected to decline between 2000 and 2010, infant mortality due to AIDS is projected to be higher than it would have been it were not for AIDS.
"The staggering trend of decreasing life expectancies due to AIDS only strengthens our resolve to do more to fight the pandemic," said Dr. Anne Peterson, assistant administrator for global health at USAID. "We have learned what programs work, and we are more determined than ever to expand these programs, and reverse these terrible trends."
USAID is the world's leader in providing funding to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Since 1986, it has provided over $2.3 billion for prevention, care and treatment programs in over 50 countries around the world. The AIDS Pandemic in the 21st Century and information on USAID's HIV/AIDS programs are available at www.usaid.gov.
USAID is the government agency providing U.S. economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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