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New infections with HIV fell by one third globally between 2001 and 2012, according to a United Nations report that shows the success of efforts to turn back the tide of the world's deadliest infectious disease.

Worldwide, 2.3 million people were newly infected with the AIDS-causing virus last year, compared with 3.4 million in 2001, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, or UNAIDS, wrote in a report today. AIDS-related deaths fell 30 percent to 1.6 million last year from the peak in 2005, the Geneva-based agency said.

Investment in antiretroviral drugs increased to $18.9 billion last year compared with $3.8 billion in 2002. More than half of that comes from low- and middle-income countries, according to the report.

"Today we have the tools we need to lay the groundwork to end the AIDS epidemic," Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS's executive director, said in the report. Still, "in several countries that have experienced significant declines in new HIV infections, disturbing signs have emerged of increases in sexual risk behaviors among young people."

To contact the reporter on this story: Simeon Bennett in Geneva at sbennett9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Phil Serafino at pserafino@bloomberg.net