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

114
Legal
114 regions (58%)
Legal
4
Somewhere in between
4 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
58
Illegal
58 regions (29%)
Illegal
21
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
21 regions (11%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
72%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
36 regions (72%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
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
70%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
16 regions (70%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (13%)
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 114 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. Cyprus 2022
  23. Czech Republic 2024
  24. Denmark 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 (16)
  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. Mexico 2012
  64. Nicaragua
  65. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  66. Saint Lucia
  67. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  68. United States 2023
  69. Africa (29)
  70. Angola
  71. Benin
  72. Botswana
  73. Burkina Faso
  74. Burundi
  75. Chad
  76. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  77. Equatorial Guinea
  78. Eswatini
  79. Gabon
  80. Guinea-Bissau
  81. Kenya 2022
  82. Lesotho
  83. Liberia
  84. Madagascar
  85. Mauritius
  86. Mozambique
  87. Namibia
  88. Niger 2008
  89. Republic of the Congo
  90. Sao Tome and Principe
  91. Seychelles
  92. Sierra Leone
  93. South Africa 2014
  94. South Sudan
  95. Tanzania
  96. Togo
  97. Tunisia 1957
  98. Zimbabwe
  99. Oceania (9)
  100. Kiribati
  101. Marshall Islands
  102. Nauru
  103. Palau
  104. Papua New Guinea 2016
  105. Solomon Islands
  106. Tonga
  107. Tuvalu
  108. Vanuatu
  109. South America (10)
  110. Argentina 2015
  111. Bolivia 2019
  112. Brazil 2020
  113. Chile 2013
  114. Colombia 2012
  115. Ecuador
  116. Guyana
  117. Paraguay
  118. Suriname
  119. Uruguay 2020
  120. Antarctica (1)
  121. Antarctica

Legal with restrictions

Blood donations by MSMs is legal with restrictions in 4 regions.

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

Banned (less than 6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (less than 6-month deferral) in 4 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Belgium 2023
  3. North America (1)
  4. Trinidad and Tobago
  5. Oceania (2)
  6. Australia 2021
  7. 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 21 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 (3)
  11. Antigua and Barbuda
  12. Guatemala
  13. Jamaica Ambiguous
  14. Africa (10)
  15. Cameroon
  16. Cape Verde Ambiguous
  17. Djibouti Ambiguous
  18. Egypt
  19. Malawi N/A
  20. Nigeria
  21. Somalia Ambiguous
  22. Sudan
  23. Uganda
  24. Zambia N/A
  25. Oceania (1)
  26. Federated States of Micronesia

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