The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is comprised of a series of overlapping micro-epidemics, each with its own structure and dynamics. However, at the global level, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continued to grow throughout 1996, with an estimated 3.1 million new infections occurring, or 8500/day. About half of those new infections were among women. The majority of newly infected adults in 1996 were under age 25 years. Worldwide, more than 23 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, while an estimated 1.5 million people died in 1996 due to AIDS. While HIV/AIDS mortality is declining in many wealthy countries largely due to better care, there has been a growing impact overall globally. Many people are unaware that they are infected with HIV. Some encouraging signs suggest that the epidemic can be brought under control even in the relatively poor countries. Sections discuss UNAIDS and the expanded global response, successes and failures in checking the spread of HIV, global inequalities and AIDS, the normalization and mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS-related issues, and an agenda for research and intervention.