There were 456 HIV cases - up from 423 the year before.
And half were already in the late stages when they were diagnosed, according to the latest statistics released by the Helath Ministry on Thursday.
This brings the total number infected since Aids first appeared here in 1985 to 3,941. Of these cases, 1,228 have died.
While sex remains the main mode of HIV spread among Singaporeans, heterosexual transmission still accounts for 54 per cent of cases. But the number has fallen from 255 in 2007 to 248 last year.
Transmission among homosexuals and bisexuals rose between 2007 and 2008 by 16 per cent and 127 per cent respectively.
More than half of all new cases reported in 2008 were aged between 30 and 49 years, with three in five being single.
The Health Ministry did not cite any reason for the rise in number of HIV and Aids cases but there were more measures in place last year to encourage people to come forward for testing.
Anonymous HIV testing at GP clinics have increased to seven since its debut here in 1991 in a Kelantan Lane clinic run by the Action For Aids (AFA) activist group.
Also, public hospitals rolled out an opt-out testing scheme for those above 21 at the end of last year.
