Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 58 countries.

DATE

Blood donations by MSMs

Historically, men who have sex with men (MSM) faced blanket bans from donating blood in many countries due to the perceived higher risk of HIV transmission associated with this group. Initiated during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, these policies have since evolved with advancements in medical testing and greater understanding of the virus. While some countries have lifted these lifetime bans, others have implemented deferral periods, requiring MSMs to abstain from sexual activity for a specified duration before donating.

Efforts to reform blood donation guidelines have continued over the years, as activists push for policies that both ensure the safety of the blood supply and respect the rights of potential donors without unjustified discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Summary

122
Legal
122 regions (62%)
Legal
1
Somewhere in between
1 regions (1%)
Somewhere in between
58
Illegal
58 regions (29%)
Illegal
17
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
17 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
70%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
35 regions (70%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
13 regions (26%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
71%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (71%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
4 regions (29%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
South America
92%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
78%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
18 regions (78%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
Africa
61%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
33 regions (61%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
12 regions (22%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
9 regions (17%)
Asia
32%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
5 regions (11%)

Timeline of blood donations by msms

Number of countries to allow blood donations by msms over the past 61 years.

Recent Changes

2024

2023

2022

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 122 regions.

  1. Asia (14)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Jordan
  6. Kazakhstan
  7. Kuwait
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Laos
  10. Maldives
  11. Mongolia
  12. Nepal
  13. Saudi Arabia
  14. South Korea
  15. Vietnam
  16. Europe (35)
  17. Albania 2008
  18. Andorra 2011
  19. Armenia
  20. Austria 2022
  21. Azerbaijan
  22. Belarus
  23. Bulgaria
  24. Cyprus 2022
  25. Estonia 2024
  26. Finland 2023
  27. France 2022
  28. Georgia 2017
  29. Germany 2023
  30. Greece 2022
  31. Hungary 2020
  32. Ireland 2022
  33. Italy 2001
  34. Latvia
  35. Liechtenstein
  36. Lithuania 2022
  37. Malta 2022
  38. Monaco
  39. Montenegro 2014
  40. Netherlands 2024
  41. North Macedonia 2009
  42. Poland
  43. Portugal 2010
  44. Romania 2008
  45. Russia 2008
  46. San Marino 1958
  47. Slovenia 2022
  48. Spain 1976
  49. Switzerland 2023
  50. Ukraine 2016
  51. United Kingdom 2021
  52. North America (18)
  53. Antigua and Barbuda
  54. Bahamas
  55. Barbados
  56. Belize
  57. Canada 2022
  58. Costa Rica
  59. Cuba 1979
  60. Dominica
  61. Dominican Republic
  62. Grenada 2012
  63. Haiti
  64. Jamaica
  65. Mexico 2012
  66. Nicaragua
  67. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  68. Saint Lucia
  69. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  70. United States 2023
  71. Africa (33)
  72. Angola
  73. Benin
  74. Botswana
  75. Burkina Faso
  76. Burundi
  77. Chad
  78. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  79. Equatorial Guinea
  80. Eswatini
  81. Gabon
  82. Guinea
  83. Guinea-Bissau
  84. Kenya 2022
  85. Lesotho
  86. Liberia
  87. Madagascar
  88. Malawi
  89. Mali
  90. Mauritius
  91. Mozambique
  92. Namibia
  93. Niger 2008
  94. Republic of the Congo
  95. Sao Tome and Principe
  96. Senegal
  97. Seychelles
  98. Sierra Leone
  99. South Africa 2014
  100. South Sudan
  101. Tanzania
  102. Togo
  103. Tunisia 1957
  104. Zimbabwe
  105. Oceania (10)
  106. Federated States of Micronesia
  107. Kiribati
  108. Marshall Islands
  109. Nauru
  110. Palau
  111. Papua New Guinea 2016
  112. Solomon Islands
  113. Tonga
  114. Tuvalu
  115. Vanuatu
  116. South America (11)
  117. Argentina 2015
  118. Bolivia 2019
  119. Brazil 2020
  120. Chile 2013
  121. Colombia 2012
  122. Ecuador
  123. Guyana
  124. Paraguay
  125. Peru
  126. Suriname
  127. Uruguay 2020
  128. Antarctica (1)
  129. Antarctica

Legal with restrictions

Blood donations by MSMs is legal with restrictions in 1 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. El Salvador

Banned (less than 6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (less than 6-month deferral) in 5 regions.

  1. Europe (2)
  2. Belgium 2023
  3. Denmark 2020
  4. North America (1)
  5. Trinidad and Tobago
  6. Oceania (2)
  7. Australia 2021
  8. New Zealand 2020

Banned (6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (6-month deferral) in 3 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Japan 2011
  3. Europe (2)
  4. Serbia 2007
  5. Sweden 2021

Banned (1-year deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (1-year deferral) in 6 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Iraq
  3. Europe (4)
  4. Czech Republic
  5. Luxembourg
  6. Norway 2017
  7. Slovakia
  8. Oceania (1)
  9. Samoa

Banned (5-year deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (5-year deferral) in 1 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Taiwan 2018

Banned (indefinite deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (indefinite deferral) in 43 regions.

  1. Asia (22)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Iran
  8. Lebanon
  9. Malaysia 2016
  10. Myanmar
  11. Oman
  12. Pakistan
  13. Palestine
  14. Philippines
  15. Qatar 1915
  16. Singapore
  17. Sri Lanka
  18. Syria
  19. Tajikistan
  20. Thailand 1977
  21. Timor-Leste
  22. United Arab Emirates
  23. Uzbekistan
  24. Europe (5)
  25. Croatia 1999
  26. Iceland 2022
  27. Kosovo
  28. Moldova
  29. Turkey 1980
  30. North America (2)
  31. Honduras
  32. Panama
  33. Africa (12)
  34. Algeria
  35. Central African Republic
  36. Comoros
  37. Côte d’Ivoire
  38. Egypt
  39. Eritrea 1957
  40. Gambia
  41. Ghana
  42. Libya
  43. Mauritania
  44. Morocco
  45. Rwanda
  46. Oceania (1)
  47. Fiji
  48. South America (1)
  49. Venezuela 2017

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 17 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Indonesia
  4. North Korea
  5. Turkmenistan
  6. Yemen
  7. Europe (2)
  8. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  9. Vatican City
  10. North America (1)
  11. Guatemala
  12. Africa (9)
  13. Cameroon
  14. Cape Verde
  15. Djibouti
  16. Ethiopia
  17. Nigeria
  18. Somalia
  19. Sudan
  20. Uganda
  21. Zambia

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