The latest UN report on HIV aids says there's been a reduction in the number of deaths from the disease from the second consecutive year.
South Africa with 5.7 million people living with HIV still has the largest epidemic in the world.
The UNs program on HIV aids says there have been positive developments in a number of heavily effected countries.
In Rwanda and Zimbabwe for example, changes in sexual behaviour have been followed by the decline in a number of new infections.
There are also said to be encouraging signs that young people are waiting longer to have sexual intercourse.
The epidemic continues to grow in Mozambique and Swaziland, with the national HIV prevalence of 26 per cent being the highest in the world.