The average time from infection to death is eight to ten years. There is no generalized definitive period for which a person with HIV can live. In the case of an untreated HIV infection, the overall mortality rate is more than 90%. The average time from infection to death is eight to ten years.

Can you live more than 20 years with HIV?

In 1996, the total life expectancy for a 20-year-old person with HIV was 39 years. In 2011, the total life expectancy bumped up to about 70 years. The survival rate for HIV-positive people has also dramatically improved since the first days of the HIV epidemic.

How many years can a person live with HIV without treatment?

Without treatment, how quickly can a person living with HIV become ill? For people living with HIV who are not diagnosed or taking ART, signs of HIV-related illness may develop within 5–10 years, although it can be sooner.