Dimapur records highest HIV positivity rate; Noklak sees decline

Dimapur district has recorded the highest HIV positivity rate in Nagaland for 2025-26, even as Noklak registered the sharpest decline over the past four years, according to the latest programme data from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) HIV Estimation 2025.
As per NACO data (2022-23 to 2025-26), Dimapur reported an HIV positivity rate of 1.30% in 2025-26, the highest among all districts. However, the figures also indicate a steady decline from 2.26% in 2022-23 to 1.67% in 2023-24 and 1.57% in 2024-25.
Nagaland continues to remain the second-highest HIV burden state in India after Mizoram. The state’s adult HIV prevalence stands at 1.37%, significantly higher than the national average of 0.2%, while Mizoram recorded the highest prevalence at 2.75%.
Among districts, Noklak showed the most significant improvement, with HIV positivity dropping sharply from 5.53% in 2022-23— the highest recorded in the state during the period— to 1.47% in 2023-24, 1.17% in 2024-25 and 0.87% in 2025–26.
Overall, Nagaland’s HIV positivity rate has declined consistently, from 1.36% in 2022-23 to 1.13% in 2023-24, 1.02% in 2024-25 and 0.86% in 2025-26.
Apart from Dimapur, other districts reporting relatively higher positivity rates in 2025-26 include Peren (0.96%), Kohima (0.94%), Noklak (0.87%) and Wokha (0.86%).
Kohima showed gradual improvement, declining from 1.21% in 2022-23 to 0.94% in 2025-26. Tuensang also recorded a drop from 1.47% to 0.71% during the same period.
Kiphire’s rate declined from 0.78% to 0.56%, while Mon improved from 0.51% to 0.31%. Phek remained stable at 0.74% for three years before falling sharply to 0.30% in 2025-26.
However, some districts recorded an uptick. Wokha rose from 0.58% in 2024-25 to 0.86% in 2025-26, while Zunheboto increased from 0.31% to 0.54%.
Longleng recorded the lowest HIV positivity rate in the state at 0.13% in 2025-26.
Trend estimates show Nagaland’s adult HIV prevalence among the 15-49 age group has remained above 1.3% for over a decade, in contrast to India’s steady decline from 0.32% in 2010 to 0.2% in 2025.
Age-wise data (April 2025-March 2026) revealed that the 25-34 age group was the most affected, accounting for 38.47% of cases, followed by 35-49 years (33.47%). The 15-24 age group accounted for 15.32%, children below 14 years 4.39%, and those aged 50 and above 8.35%.
In terms of transmission, heterosexual contact remained the leading mode at 83.08%, followed by syringe and needle sharing (10.99%), parent-to-child transmission (4.64%), homo/bisexual transmission (0.88%), blood-related transmission (0.05%) and unknown causes (0.36%).
Despite improvements in several districts, the data underscores the need for sustained awareness, targeted interventions, expanded testing and better access to treatment and counselling services across the state.

District wise statistics indicating the distribution of HIV/AIDS across the State:

HIV positivity in % out of total tested