Dec. 1 – December 1 marks World AIDS Day, and while the understanding and treatment of the disease has improved dramatically over the past 15 years, it still remains an incurable disease that in many parts of Asia continues to carry negative social stigmas.

Below, we examine the major nations of Asia, looking at the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infected adults as well as the number of HIV/AIDS patients in each country. India, with its huge number of infected persons, and the Philippines, with its relatively low rate of infection stand out, while the reported number and percentage of HIV/AIDS cases in China is assumed to be a very low estimation of the actual number. Cambodia and Myanmar have the highest prevalence rates in Asia and the health systems in both the countries are in poor shape to cope with the disease that is now is reaching epidemic levels there.