Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 61 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

76
Legal
76 regions (38%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
61
Illegal
61 regions (31%)
Illegal
58
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
58 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
62%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
31 regions (62%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
12 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (12%)
Oceania
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (79%)
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
39%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (39%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (48%)
Africa
26%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (26%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
18 regions (33%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
21 regions (39%)
Asia
25%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
11 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
8 regions (18%)

Timeline of blood donations by msms

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

Recent & Upcoming Changes

Upcoming Changes

2025

2024

2023

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 76 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Laos
  6. Myanmar
  7. Nepal
  8. Saudi Arabia
  9. South Korea
  10. Timor-Leste 2022
  11. Uzbekistan
  12. Vietnam
  13. Europe (31)
  14. Albania 2008
  15. Andorra 2011
  16. Armenia
  17. Austria 2022
  18. Belarus
  19. Cyprus 2022
  20. Czechia 2024
  21. Denmark 2024
  22. Estonia 2024
  23. Finland 2023
  24. France 2022
  25. Germany 2023
  26. Hungary 2020
  27. Ireland 2022
  28. Italy 2001
  29. Latvia
  30. Lithuania 2022
  31. Malta 2022
  32. Montenegro 2014
  33. Netherlands 2024
  34. North Macedonia 2009
  35. Poland
  36. Portugal 2010
  37. Romania 2008
  38. Russia 2008
  39. San Marino 1958
  40. Slovenia 2022
  41. Spain 1976
  42. Switzerland 2023
  43. Ukraine
  44. United Kingdom 2021
  45. North America (9)
  46. Canada 2022
  47. Costa Rica 2007
  48. Cuba
  49. Dominican Republic
  50. Guatemala
  51. Haiti
  52. Honduras 2024
  53. Mexico 2012
  54. United States 2023
  55. Africa (14)
  56. Angola
  57. Benin
  58. Burundi
  59. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  60. Egypt
  61. Equatorial Guinea
  62. Liberia
  63. Malawi
  64. Namibia
  65. Republic of the Congo
  66. South Africa 2014
  67. South Sudan 2014
  68. Zambia
  69. Zimbabwe
  70. Oceania (1)
  71. Fiji
  72. South America (10)
  73. Argentina 2015
  74. Bolivia 2019
  75. Brazil 2020
  76. Chile 2013
  77. Colombia 2012
  78. Ecuador
  79. Guyana
  80. Paraguay
  81. Suriname
  82. Uruguay 2020

Legal with restrictions

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

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Bulgaria
  3. Africa (1)
  4. Cape Verde
  5. South America (1)
  6. 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 2023
  5. Oceania (2)
  6. Australia 2023
  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. 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 48 regions.

  1. Asia (22)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Indonesia
  8. Iran
  9. Kuwait
  10. Kyrgyzstan
  11. Lebanon
  12. Malaysia
  13. Oman
  14. Pakistan
  15. Palestine
  16. Philippines
  17. Qatar 1915
  18. Singapore
  19. Sri Lanka
  20. Syria
  21. Tajikistan
  22. Thailand
  23. United Arab Emirates
  24. Europe (6)
  25. Croatia 1999
  26. Greece 2025
  27. Iceland
  28. Kosovo
  29. Moldova 1993
  30. Turkey 1980
  31. North America (2)
  32. El Salvador 2010
  33. Panama 2001
  34. Africa (17)
  35. Algeria
  36. Botswana
  37. Central African Republic
  38. Comoros
  39. Côte d’Ivoire
  40. Eritrea 1957
  41. Ethiopia
  42. Gabon
  43. Gambia
  44. Ghana
  45. Guinea
  46. Mauritania 2016
  47. Mauritius
  48. Morocco
  49. Rwanda
  50. Senegal
  51. Tanzania
  52. South America (1)
  53. Venezuela 2017

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 58 regions.

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

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