The number of HIV infections among Chinese men above 60 years old has increased fivefold in the past decade, according to World Health Organization figures.

Last year, 37,000 new HIV infections were recorded among the age group, WHO said in a WeChat post marking World AIDS Day on Tuesday. Among them, 77%, or 28,700, were men, a jump of 500% compared to 2010.

Cases in the age group made up a quarter of the 150,000 new HIV cases in mainland China last year, WHO said. That is despite retirees above 65 years old making up only 12.3% of the population, according to the World Factbook published by the United State’s Central Intelligence Agency.

Six out of 10 men above 60 years old who were infected with HIV said they contracted the disease through paid sexual services, according to WHO figures. The organization said unprotected sex remained the major transmission route of the disease in mainland China.

Last year, 34,500 people died from HIV/AIDS in China and 960,000 people in total were living with the virus, WHO said.

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