Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 51 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

98
Legal
98 regions (49%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
51
Illegal
51 regions (26%)
Illegal
46
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
46 regions (23%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
72%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
36 regions (72%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
9 regions (18%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (8%)
Oceania
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (64%)
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
57%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
13 regions (57%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
5 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (22%)
Africa
37%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
20 regions (37%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Illegal
15 regions (28%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
17 regions (32%)
Asia
32%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
21 regions (48%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (21%)

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 98 regions.

  1. Asia (14)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Iran
  5. Israel 2021
  6. Laos
  7. Myanmar
  8. Nepal
  9. Palestine
  10. Qatar
  11. Saudi Arabia
  12. South Korea
  13. Timor-Leste
  14. Uzbekistan
  15. Vietnam
  16. Europe (36)
  17. Albania 2008
  18. Andorra 2011
  19. Armenia
  20. Austria 2022
  21. Azerbaijan
  22. Belarus
  23. Cyprus 2022
  24. Czechia 2024
  25. Denmark 2024
  26. Estonia 2024
  27. Finland 2023
  28. France 2022
  29. Germany 2023
  30. Hungary 2020
  31. Iceland 2025
  32. Ireland 2022
  33. Italy 2001
  34. Latvia
  35. Liechtenstein 2022
  36. Lithuania 2022
  37. Malta 2022
  38. Montenegro 2014
  39. Netherlands 2024
  40. North Macedonia 2009
  41. Norway 2024
  42. Poland
  43. Portugal 2010
  44. Romania 2008
  45. Russia 2008
  46. San Marino 1958
  47. Serbia 2025
  48. Slovenia 2022
  49. Spain
  50. Switzerland 2023
  51. Ukraine
  52. United Kingdom 2021
  53. North America (13)
  54. Antigua and Barbuda
  55. Bahamas
  56. Belize
  57. Canada 2022
  58. Costa Rica 2007
  59. Cuba
  60. Dominican Republic
  61. Haiti
  62. Honduras 2024
  63. Mexico 2012
  64. Nicaragua
  65. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  66. United States 2023
  67. Africa (20)
  68. Algeria
  69. Angola
  70. Benin
  71. Burundi
  72. Comoros
  73. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  74. Egypt
  75. Equatorial Guinea
  76. Eswatini
  77. Ethiopia
  78. Lesotho
  79. Liberia
  80. Mozambique
  81. Namibia
  82. Republic of the Congo
  83. Seychelles
  84. South Africa 2014
  85. South Sudan 2014
  86. Zambia
  87. Zimbabwe
  88. Oceania (5)
  89. Australia 2025
  90. Fiji
  91. New Zealand 2026
  92. Papua New Guinea
  93. Vanuatu
  94. South America (10)
  95. Argentina 2015
  96. Bolivia 2019
  97. Brazil 2020
  98. Chile 2013
  99. Colombia 2012
  100. Ecuador
  101. Guyana
  102. Paraguay
  103. Suriname
  104. 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 42 regions.

  1. Asia (18)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Kuwait
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Lebanon
  10. Malaysia
  11. Oman
  12. Pakistan
  13. Philippines
  14. Singapore 1992
  15. Sri Lanka
  16. Syria
  17. Tajikistan
  18. Thailand
  19. United Arab Emirates
  20. Europe (5)
  21. Croatia 1999
  22. Greece 2025
  23. Kosovo
  24. Moldova 1993
  25. Turkey
  26. North America (4)
  27. Dominica
  28. El Salvador 2010
  29. Guatemala
  30. Panama 2001
  31. Africa (14)
  32. Botswana
  33. Central African Republic
  34. Côte d’Ivoire
  35. Eritrea 1957
  36. Gabon
  37. Gambia
  38. Ghana
  39. Guinea
  40. Mauritania 2016
  41. Mauritius
  42. Morocco
  43. Rwanda
  44. Senegal
  45. Tanzania
  46. South America (1)
  47. Venezuela

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 46 regions.

  1. Asia (9)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Iraq
  5. Jordan
  6. Maldives Ambiguous
  7. Mongolia
  8. North Korea
  9. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  10. Yemen Ambiguous
  11. Europe (4)
  12. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  13. Georgia
  14. Monaco
  15. Vatican City N/A
  16. North America (5)
  17. Barbados Ambiguous
  18. Grenada
  19. Jamaica Ambiguous
  20. Saint Lucia
  21. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  22. Africa (17)
  23. Burkina Faso Ambiguous
  24. Cameroon Ambiguous
  25. Chad Ambiguous
  26. Djibouti Ambiguous
  27. Guinea-Bissau
  28. Kenya Ambiguous
  29. Madagascar
  30. Malawi Ambiguous
  31. Mali Ambiguous
  32. Niger Ambiguous
  33. Sao Tome and Principe
  34. Sierra Leone
  35. Somalia Ambiguous
  36. Sudan
  37. Togo Ambiguous
  38. Tunisia N/A
  39. Uganda
  40. Oceania (9)
  41. Federated States of Micronesia
  42. Kiribati
  43. Marshall Islands
  44. Nauru
  45. Palau
  46. Samoa
  47. Solomon Islands
  48. Tonga
  49. Tuvalu
  50. South America (1)
  51. Peru Ambiguous
  52. Antarctica (1)
  53. Antarctica N/A

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