Cambodia meets 95-95-95 HIV targets in 2025, eyes AIDS-free status by 2030
Synopsis
Cambodia has quietly achieved one of global health's most demanding benchmarks — the 95-95-95 HIV targets — and is now awaiting formal UNAIDS validation. With 76,000 people living with HIV and just 1,200 new infections recorded last year, the country's trajectory stands out in a region where many peers are still struggling to reach even the first tier of the cascade.
Key Takeaways
Cambodia achieved the 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets in 2024 , confirmed by Health Minister Chheang Ra on 30 May 2025 .
The targets require 95% of people with HIV to know their status, 95% of those to be on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed.
Cambodia has approximately 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, with nearly 700 AIDS-related deaths and about 1,200 new infections recorded last year.
UNAIDS country director Patricia Ongpin said the agency will formally validate Cambodia's achievement in line with international standards.
Cambodia aims to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 , and plans to expand PrEP and self-testing while improving domestic funding sustainability.
Cambodia has achieved the global 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets ahead of schedule, placing the country firmly on course to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the country's Minister of Health Chheang Ra announced on 30 May 2025 in Phnom Penh. The milestone was disclosed during a high-level meeting with Patricia Ongpin, country director of UNAIDS for Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
What the 95-95-95 Targets Mean
The internationally recognised 95-95-95 framework sets three cascading benchmarks: 95% of people living with HIV must know their status; 95% of those who know their status must be on life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART); and 95% of those on treatment must achieve viral suppression. Reaching all three thresholds simultaneously is considered a defining marker of a mature, high-functioning national AIDS response.
What the Minister Said
'Achieving the 95-95-95 targets is a clear testament to the progress and effectiveness of Cambodia's National AIDS Programme,' Chheang Ra said. 'It shows that Cambodia is firmly on track towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.' The minister added that the country will continue integrating HIV prevention, testing, and treatment into its broader health system, while expanding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and self-testing services and boosting funding sustainability for AIDS programmes.
UNAIDS Response and Formal Validation
Patricia Ongpin congratulated Cambodia on what she described as remarkable progress. According to reports, UNAIDS will now prepare to formally validate and recognise Cambodia's achievement of the 95-95-95 targets in line with international standards — a process that, once complete, would place Cambodia among a small group of countries globally to have earned this recognition.
Scale of Cambodia's HIV Burden
Cambodia has approximately 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, according to a 2025 Ministry of Health report. The same report recorded nearly 700 AIDS-related deaths and roughly 1,200 new HIV infections last year — figures that, while still significant, reflect a steep decline from earlier epidemic peaks. HIV attacks the body's white blood cells, weakening the immune system and making individuals more susceptible to tuberculosis, opportunistic infections, and certain cancers. Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS over many years.
What Comes Next
Cambodia's next challenge is sustaining these gains. The Ministry has signalled a push toward greater domestic funding sustainability, reducing dependence on international donors — a structural shift that health economists argue is essential for long-term programme resilience. If formal UNAIDS validation proceeds as expected, Cambodia could become a model for other lower-middle-income countries in the region pursuing similar elimination targets by the end of the decade.
Point of View
And the minister's language about 'funding sustainability' signals awareness of a looming fiscal cliff. UNAIDS validation will generate diplomatic goodwill, but the real test will come when donor cycles wind down and domestic budget lines must absorb the cost of keeping 76,000 people on lifelong antiretroviral therapy.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 95-95-95 HIV targets that Cambodia has achieved?
The 95-95-95 targets are a global benchmark set by UNAIDS requiring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. Cambodia confirmed it met all three thresholds last year.
How many people in Cambodia are living with HIV/AIDS?
According to a 2025 Ministry of Health report, approximately 76,000 people in Cambodia are living with HIV/AIDS. The same report recorded nearly 700 AIDS-related deaths and about 1,200 new HIV infections in the previous year.
What is Cambodia's goal for AIDS by 2030?
Cambodia aims to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with the global UNAIDS target. Achieving the 95-95-95 benchmarks is considered a critical prerequisite for reaching that goal.
Will UNAIDS officially recognise Cambodia's achievement?
Yes. UNAIDS country director Patricia Ongpin said the agency will prepare to formally validate and recognise Cambodia's achievement of the 95-95-95 targets in accordance with international standards. The formal validation process has not yet been completed.
What steps is Cambodia taking to sustain its HIV programme?
Health Minister Chheang Ra said Cambodia will continue integrating HIV prevention, testing, and treatment into its national health system, expand Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and self-testing services, and work to boost domestic funding sustainability for AIDS programmes to reduce reliance on international donors.
