Introduction: Given the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatments and the increased life expectancy of people living with HIV, describing the causes of death and the characteristics of those who have died is one of the key health indicators for this population. Methods: Based on the ANRS-EN20-Mortalité 2010 survey, the social and behavioral characteristics of four socio-epidemiological groups were compared: French or foreign men who have sex with men (MSM); French or foreign people who inject drugs (PWID); foreign heterosexual men and women (HET-ETR); and French heterosexual men and women (HET-FR). Results: Among the 652 deaths (81 metropolitan centers representing 70–80% of deaths known to specialized services), the distribution of causes of death varied significantly among the four groups, with a very high proportion of AIDS among HET-ETR (42.9% vs. 10.1% among IDUs, 22.9% among HET-FR, and 32.9% among MSM), liver disease among IDUs (24.3% vs. 4.8% to 6.9% in the other groups), and cancer among HET-FR (29.5%). The distribution of risk factors, comorbidities, and indicators of social vulnerability varied across groups, with IDUs facing a particularly unfavorable social situation. Discussion and conclusion: The data on deaths highlight social inequality to the detriment of IDUs and the persistent burden of missed opportunities associated with delayed screening among HET-ETR. They provide useful insights for improving the health of people living with HIV through the organization of screening and the implementation of comprehensive care tailored to the needs of each group.