HIV Cases in Malaysia by State (2026 Update): Selangor, KL, Sabah and Sarawak
[ Back to News Page ] Dated: 27-Sep-2026
Quick answer: Selangor records more new HIV cases than any other state in Malaysia. Of the 3,185 new cases reported nationwide in 2024, Selangor had 1,085 (34.1%), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 365 (11.4%) and Sabah with 344 (10.8%). These 2024 figures are the latest official state-level numbers available in 2026.
HIV cases in Malaysia by state: latest figures
The Ministry of Health (MOH) shared the states with the most new HIV cases in a reply in the Dewan Negara in March 2025. Separate figures for Sarawak were reported in July 2025.
| State | New HIV cases (2024) | Share of national total |
|---|---|---|
| Selangor | 1,085 | 34.1% |
| Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya | 365 | 11.4% |
| Sabah | 344 | 10.8% |
| Sarawak | 217 | 6.8% |
| All other states combined | 1,174 | 36.9% |
| Malaysia | 3,185 | 100% |
The Ministry has not published a full breakdown for every state for 2024 onwards. National totals for 2025 (3,004 new cases, provisional) were released in January 2026, but without state figures. We will update this page when newer state data is published.
State by state: what the numbers show
Selangor: one in three new cases
Selangor is Malaysia's most populous and most urbanised state, and it has consistently recorded the highest number of new HIV cases. Its share of new cases (34.1%) is higher than its share of Malaysia's population, which is why young adults in the Klang Valley are a key focus for testing and prevention.
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, reported together, recorded 365 new cases in 2024. Free HIV screening is available at government health clinics across both territories; see our list of HIV screening clinics in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Sabah: third highest
Sabah recorded 344 new cases in 2024, the third highest in the country after Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, according to health experts at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Sarawak
Sarawak recorded 217 new HIV cases in 2024, an incidence of 8.62 per 100,000 population, slightly below the national rate of 9.4 per 100,000. Kuching Division recorded the most cases in the state for the fifth year in a row, with 74 cases in 2024.
Penang
Penang reported 1,715 HIV/AIDS cases between 2021 and 2025, with the highest yearly total in 2023 (416 cases) and 234 cases in 2025. Adults aged 20–29 were the most affected. Read our Penang report.
What all states have in common
Across Malaysia, new HIV cases have fallen from 6,978 in 2002 (28.5 per 100,000 people) to 3,185 in 2024 (9.4 per 100,000). The main route of infection has shifted from sharing needles to sex, which is why regular testing, condoms and HIV prevention medicine (PrEP) matter in every state.
Where to get tested in your state
- Any government health clinic (Klinik Kesihatan): HIV screening is free for Malaysians, with a RM1 registration fee. Bring your MyKad and ask for saringan HIV.
- Private clinics and laboratories: offer a wider choice of tests; fees vary.
- At home: an HIV self-test lets you screen privately, wherever you live. A reactive result must be confirmed at a clinic.
Compare your options in our guide: HIV test in Malaysia: where to test, cost and accuracy. For the national picture, read HIV cases in Malaysia 2026: latest figures and trends.
Test privately, wherever you are in Malaysia
The iCare HIV 1&2 Home Test Kit is delivered in discreet packaging nationwide. A reactive result must be confirmed at a clinic.
Sources: The Merdeka Times, “Selangor catat kes HIV baru tertinggi,” reporting the Deputy Health Minister in the Dewan Negara, 24 March 2025 (themerdekatimes.com); Portal Berita RTM, 24 March 2025 (berita.rtm.gov.my); Daily Express, “Reducing Sabah HIV cases, now third highest,” 12 October 2025 (dailyexpress.com.my); New Straits Times, “Sarawak HIV incidence at 8.62 per 100,000 population, with 217 new cases last year,” July 2025 (nst.com.my); Borneo Post, “Kuching tops Sarawak HIV cases for 5th year as 74 recorded in 2024,” 17 July 2025 (theborneopost.com); CodeBlue, 7 August 2025 (codeblue.galencentre.org).
