Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 55 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

123
Legal
123 regions (62%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
55
Illegal
55 regions (28%)
Illegal
17
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
17 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
76%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
38 regions (76%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
8 regions (16%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (6%)
Oceania
71%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (71%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
3 regions (21%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
South America
83%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (83%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
North America
74%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
17 regions (74%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
59%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
32 regions (59%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Illegal
16 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (7%)
Asia
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
16 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
23 regions (52%)
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

2026

2025

2024

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 123 regions.

  1. Asia (16)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Iran
  5. Israel 2021
  6. Laos
  7. Myanmar
  8. Nepal
  9. North Korea
  10. Oman
  11. Palestine
  12. Qatar
  13. Saudi Arabia
  14. South Korea
  15. Timor-Leste
  16. Uzbekistan
  17. Vietnam
  18. Europe (38)
  19. Albania
  20. Andorra 2011
  21. Armenia
  22. Austria 2022
  23. Azerbaijan
  24. Belarus
  25. Cyprus 2022
  26. Czechia 2024
  27. Denmark 2024
  28. Estonia 2024
  29. Finland 2023
  30. France 2022
  31. Georgia 2017
  32. Germany 2023
  33. Hungary 2020
  34. Iceland 2025
  35. Ireland 2022
  36. Italy 2001
  37. Latvia
  38. Liechtenstein 2022
  39. Lithuania 2022
  40. Malta 2022
  41. Monaco
  42. Montenegro 2014
  43. Netherlands 2024
  44. North Macedonia 2009
  45. Norway 2024
  46. Poland
  47. Portugal 2010
  48. Romania 2008
  49. Russia 2008
  50. San Marino
  51. Serbia 2025
  52. Slovenia 2022
  53. Spain 2005
  54. Switzerland 2023
  55. Ukraine
  56. United Kingdom 2021
  57. North America (17)
  58. Antigua and Barbuda
  59. Bahamas
  60. Belize
  61. Canada 2022
  62. Costa Rica 2007
  63. Cuba
  64. Dominica
  65. Dominican Republic
  66. Grenada
  67. Haiti
  68. Honduras 2024
  69. Mexico 2012
  70. Nicaragua
  71. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  72. Saint Lucia
  73. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  74. United States 2023
  75. Africa (32)
  76. Algeria
  77. Angola
  78. Benin
  79. Burkina Faso
  80. Burundi
  81. Cameroon
  82. Chad
  83. Comoros
  84. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  85. Egypt
  86. Equatorial Guinea
  87. Eritrea
  88. Eswatini
  89. Ethiopia
  90. Gambia
  91. Guinea
  92. Kenya 2022
  93. Lesotho
  94. Liberia
  95. Mali
  96. Mozambique
  97. Namibia
  98. Niger
  99. Republic of the Congo
  100. Senegal
  101. Seychelles
  102. Sierra Leone
  103. South Africa 2014
  104. South Sudan 2014
  105. Togo
  106. Zambia
  107. Zimbabwe
  108. Oceania (10)
  109. Australia 2026
  110. Kiribati
  111. New Zealand 2026
  112. Palau
  113. Papua New Guinea
  114. Samoa
  115. Solomon Islands
  116. Tonga
  117. Tuvalu
  118. Vanuatu
  119. South America (10)
  120. Argentina 2015
  121. Bolivia 2019
  122. Brazil 2020
  123. Chile 2013
  124. Colombia 2012
  125. Ecuador
  126. Guyana
  127. Paraguay
  128. Suriname
  129. Uruguay 2020

Legal with restrictions

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

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Bulgaria
  3. Africa (2)
  4. Cape Verde
  5. Libya

Banned (less than 6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (less than 6-month deferral) in 2 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Belgium 2023
  3. North America (1)
  4. Trinidad and Tobago 2023

Banned (6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (6-month deferral) in 2 regions.

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

Banned (1-year deferral)

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

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Kazakhstan 2022
  3. Europe (2)
  4. Luxembourg 2021
  5. Slovakia

Banned (5-year deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (5-year deferral) in 2 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Taiwan 2018
  3. Africa (1)
  4. Nigeria

Banned (indefinite deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (indefinite deferral) in 46 regions.

  1. Asia (20)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Iraq
  8. Jordan
  9. Kuwait
  10. Kyrgyzstan
  11. Lebanon
  12. Malaysia
  13. Mongolia
  14. Pakistan
  15. Philippines
  16. Singapore 1992
  17. Sri Lanka
  18. Syria
  19. Tajikistan
  20. Thailand
  21. United Arab Emirates
  22. Europe (4)
  23. Croatia 1999
  24. Greece 2025
  25. Moldova 1993
  26. Turkey
  27. North America (3)
  28. El Salvador 2010
  29. Guatemala
  30. Panama 2001
  31. Africa (15)
  32. Botswana
  33. Central African Republic
  34. Côte d’Ivoire
  35. Gabon
  36. Ghana
  37. Guinea-Bissau
  38. Madagascar
  39. Mauritania 2016
  40. Mauritius
  41. Morocco
  42. Rwanda
  43. Sao Tome and Principe
  44. Sudan
  45. Tanzania
  46. Uganda
  47. Oceania (3)
  48. Federated States of Micronesia
  49. Marshall Islands
  50. Nauru
  51. South America (1)
  52. Venezuela

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

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

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Maldives Ambiguous
  5. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  6. Yemen Ambiguous
  7. Europe (3)
  8. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  9. Kosovo Ambiguous
  10. Vatican City N/A
  11. North America (2)
  12. Barbados Ambiguous
  13. Jamaica Ambiguous
  14. Africa (4)
  15. Djibouti Ambiguous
  16. Malawi Ambiguous
  17. Somalia Ambiguous
  18. Tunisia N/A
  19. Oceania (1)
  20. Fiji Ambiguous
  21. South America (1)
  22. Peru Ambiguous
  23. Antarctica (1)
  24. Antarctica N/A

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