The United Nations Population Division has painted a grim picture of the HIV/AIDS epidemic spreading through sub-Saharan Africa.

In a new chart released by the UN Population Division, Zambia is said to be among eight countries where the life expectancy will have dropped by at least 17 years by 2005. Others are Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa. The UN Population Division said the numbers show a worsening of the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in terms of increased illness, deaths and population loss while the epidemic has yet to reach the peak of the deaths.

The chart was produced ahead of the UN General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS June 25-27, which is expected to adopt a global agenda to combat the disease. It includes AIDS statistics from every country, including life expectancy with and without AIDS, condom use, and health expenditure per capita. Despite the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, however, the population of the most affected countries is expected to increase by 2050.

The African population which is today around 800 million is likely to be two billion by 2050, even with AIDS, according to the United Nations.