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

93
Legal
93 regions (47%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
53
Illegal
53 regions (27%)
Illegal
49
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
49 regions (25%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
66%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
33 regions (66%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (10%)
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 93 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 (33)
  17. Albania 2008
  18. Andorra 2011
  19. Armenia
  20. Austria 2022
  21. Belarus
  22. Cyprus 2022
  23. Czechia 2024
  24. Denmark 2024
  25. Estonia 2024
  26. Finland 2023
  27. France 2022
  28. Germany 2023
  29. Hungary 2020
  30. Iceland 2025
  31. Ireland 2022
  32. Italy 2001
  33. Latvia
  34. Liechtenstein 2022
  35. Lithuania 2022
  36. Malta 2022
  37. Montenegro 2014
  38. Netherlands 2024
  39. North Macedonia 2009
  40. Poland
  41. Portugal 2010
  42. Romania 2008
  43. Russia 2008
  44. San Marino 1958
  45. Slovenia 2022
  46. Spain
  47. Switzerland 2023
  48. Ukraine
  49. United Kingdom 2021
  50. North America (13)
  51. Antigua and Barbuda
  52. Bahamas
  53. Belize
  54. Canada 2022
  55. Costa Rica 2007
  56. Cuba
  57. Dominican Republic
  58. Haiti
  59. Honduras 2024
  60. Mexico 2012
  61. Nicaragua
  62. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  63. United States 2023
  64. Africa (19)
  65. Algeria
  66. Angola
  67. Benin
  68. Burundi
  69. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  70. Egypt
  71. Equatorial Guinea
  72. Eswatini
  73. Ethiopia
  74. Lesotho
  75. Liberia
  76. Mozambique
  77. Namibia
  78. Republic of the Congo
  79. Seychelles
  80. South Africa 2014
  81. South Sudan 2014
  82. Zambia
  83. Zimbabwe
  84. Oceania (4)
  85. Australia 2025
  86. Fiji
  87. Papua New Guinea
  88. Vanuatu
  89. South America (10)
  90. Argentina 2015
  91. Bolivia 2019
  92. Brazil 2020
  93. Chile 2013
  94. Colombia 2012
  95. Ecuador
  96. Guyana
  97. Paraguay
  98. Suriname
  99. 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 49 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 (5)
  13. Azerbaijan
  14. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  15. Georgia
  16. Monaco
  17. Vatican City N/A
  18. North America (6)
  19. Barbados Ambiguous
  20. Dominica
  21. Grenada
  22. Jamaica Ambiguous
  23. Saint Lucia
  24. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  25. Africa (17)
  26. Burkina Faso Ambiguous
  27. Cameroon
  28. Chad Ambiguous
  29. Djibouti Ambiguous
  30. Guinea-Bissau
  31. Kenya Ambiguous
  32. Madagascar
  33. Malawi Ambiguous
  34. Mali Ambiguous
  35. Niger Ambiguous
  36. Sao Tome and Principe
  37. Sierra Leone
  38. Somalia Ambiguous
  39. Sudan
  40. Togo Ambiguous
  41. Tunisia N/A
  42. Uganda
  43. Oceania (9)
  44. Federated States of Micronesia
  45. Kiribati
  46. Marshall Islands
  47. Nauru
  48. Palau
  49. Samoa
  50. Solomon Islands
  51. Tonga
  52. Tuvalu
  53. South America (1)
  54. Peru Ambiguous
  55. Antarctica (1)
  56. Antarctica N/A

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