Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 59 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

115
Legal
115 regions (58%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
59
Illegal
59 regions (30%)
Illegal
20
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
20 regions (10%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
72%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
36 regions (72%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
12 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (64%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
4 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
South America
83%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (83%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
74%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
17 regions (74%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
55%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
29 regions (55%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
14 regions (26%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (19%)
Asia
30%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
13 regions (30%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
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 115 regions.

  1. Asia (13)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Jordan
  6. Kazakhstan 1997
  7. Kyrgyzstan
  8. Laos
  9. Maldives
  10. Mongolia
  11. Nepal
  12. Saudi Arabia
  13. South Korea
  14. Vietnam
  15. Europe (36)
  16. Albania 2008
  17. Andorra 2011
  18. Armenia
  19. Austria 2022
  20. Azerbaijan
  21. Belarus
  22. Bulgaria
  23. Cyprus 2022
  24. Czech Republic 2024
  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 (17)
  53. Bahamas
  54. Barbados
  55. Belize
  56. Canada 2022
  57. Costa Rica 2007
  58. Cuba 1979
  59. Dominica
  60. Dominican Republic
  61. Grenada 2012
  62. Haiti
  63. Jamaica
  64. Mexico 2012
  65. Nicaragua
  66. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  67. Saint Lucia
  68. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  69. United States 2023
  70. Africa (29)
  71. Angola
  72. Benin
  73. Botswana
  74. Burkina Faso
  75. Burundi
  76. Chad
  77. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  78. Equatorial Guinea
  79. Eswatini
  80. Gabon
  81. Guinea-Bissau
  82. Kenya 2022
  83. Lesotho
  84. Liberia
  85. Madagascar
  86. Mauritius
  87. Mozambique
  88. Namibia
  89. Niger 2008
  90. Republic of the Congo
  91. Sao Tome and Principe
  92. Seychelles
  93. Sierra Leone
  94. South Africa 2014
  95. South Sudan
  96. Tanzania
  97. Togo
  98. Tunisia 1957
  99. Zimbabwe
  100. Oceania (9)
  101. Kiribati
  102. Marshall Islands
  103. Nauru
  104. Palau
  105. Papua New Guinea 2016
  106. Solomon Islands
  107. Tonga
  108. Tuvalu
  109. Vanuatu
  110. South America (10)
  111. Argentina 2015
  112. Bolivia 2019
  113. Brazil 2020
  114. Chile 2013
  115. Colombia 2012
  116. Ecuador
  117. Guyana
  118. Paraguay
  119. Suriname
  120. Uruguay 2020
  121. Antarctica (1)
  122. Antarctica

Legal with restrictions

Blood donations by MSMs is legal with restrictions in 3 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Turkmenistan
  3. North America (1)
  4. El Salvador
  5. South America (1)
  6. Peru

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 4 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Japan 2011
  3. Europe (3)
  4. Norway 2024
  5. Serbia 2007
  6. Sweden 2021

Banned (1-year deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (1-year deferral) in 3 regions.

  1. Europe (2)
  2. Luxembourg 2021
  3. Slovakia
  4. Oceania (1)
  5. 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 46 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 20 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Iraq
  5. North Korea
  6. Yemen Ambiguous
  7. Europe (2)
  8. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  9. Vatican City N/A
  10. North America (2)
  11. Antigua and Barbuda
  12. Guatemala
  13. Africa (10)
  14. Cameroon
  15. Cape Verde Ambiguous
  16. Djibouti Ambiguous
  17. Egypt
  18. Malawi N/A
  19. Nigeria
  20. Somalia Ambiguous
  21. Sudan
  22. Uganda
  23. Zambia N/A
  24. Oceania (1)
  25. Federated States of Micronesia

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