Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 53 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

94
Legal
94 regions (47%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
53
Illegal
53 regions (27%)
Illegal
48
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
48 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
68%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
34 regions (68%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (8%)
Oceania
29%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
4 regions (29%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
1 regions (7%)
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
4 regions (17%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (26%)
Africa
35%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
19 regions (35%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Illegal
16 regions (30%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
17 regions (32%)
Asia
32%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
20 regions (46%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
10 regions (23%)

Timeline of blood donations by msms

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

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 94 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 (34)
  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. Poland
  42. Portugal 2010
  43. Romania 2008
  44. Russia 2008
  45. San Marino 1958
  46. Slovenia 2022
  47. Spain
  48. Switzerland 2023
  49. Ukraine
  50. United Kingdom 2021
  51. North America (13)
  52. Antigua and Barbuda
  53. Bahamas
  54. Belize
  55. Canada 2022
  56. Costa Rica 2007
  57. Cuba
  58. Dominican Republic
  59. Haiti
  60. Honduras 2024
  61. Mexico 2012
  62. Nicaragua
  63. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  64. United States 2023
  65. Africa (19)
  66. Algeria
  67. Angola
  68. Benin
  69. Burundi
  70. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  71. Egypt
  72. Equatorial Guinea
  73. Eswatini
  74. Ethiopia
  75. Lesotho
  76. Liberia
  77. Mozambique
  78. Namibia
  79. Republic of the Congo
  80. Seychelles
  81. South Africa 2014
  82. South Sudan 2014
  83. Zambia
  84. Zimbabwe
  85. Oceania (4)
  86. Australia 2025
  87. Fiji
  88. Papua New Guinea
  89. Vanuatu
  90. South America (10)
  91. Argentina 2015
  92. Bolivia 2019
  93. Brazil 2020
  94. Chile 2013
  95. Colombia 2012
  96. Ecuador
  97. Guyana
  98. Paraguay
  99. Suriname
  100. 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 3 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Belgium 2023
  3. North America (1)
  4. Trinidad and Tobago 2023
  5. Oceania (1)
  6. 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. 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 41 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 48 regions.

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

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