Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 56 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

91
Legal
91 regions (46%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
56
Illegal
56 regions (28%)
Illegal
48
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
48 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
32 regions (64%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (12%)
Oceania
21%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
3 regions (21%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
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
61%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (61%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
3 regions (13%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (26%)
Africa
33%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
18 regions (33%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Illegal
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
17 regions (32%)
Asia
32%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
14 regions (32%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
22 regions (50%)
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 91 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 (32)
  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. Lithuania 2022
  35. Malta 2022
  36. Montenegro 2014
  37. Netherlands 2024
  38. North Macedonia 2009
  39. Poland
  40. Portugal 2010
  41. Romania 2008
  42. Russia 2008
  43. San Marino 1958
  44. Slovenia 2022
  45. Spain
  46. Switzerland 2023
  47. Ukraine
  48. United Kingdom 2021
  49. North America (14)
  50. Antigua and Barbuda
  51. Bahamas
  52. Belize
  53. Canada 2022
  54. Costa Rica 2007
  55. Cuba
  56. Dominican Republic
  57. Guatemala
  58. Haiti
  59. Honduras 2024
  60. Mexico 2012
  61. Nicaragua
  62. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  63. United States 2023
  64. Africa (18)
  65. Angola
  66. Benin
  67. Burundi
  68. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  69. Egypt
  70. Equatorial Guinea
  71. Eswatini
  72. Ethiopia
  73. Lesotho
  74. Liberia
  75. Mozambique
  76. Namibia
  77. Republic of the Congo
  78. Seychelles
  79. South Africa 2014
  80. South Sudan 2014
  81. Zambia
  82. Zimbabwe
  83. Oceania (3)
  84. Fiji
  85. Papua New Guinea
  86. Vanuatu
  87. South America (10)
  88. Argentina 2015
  89. Bolivia 2019
  90. Brazil 2020
  91. Chile 2013
  92. Colombia 2012
  93. Ecuador
  94. Guyana
  95. Paraguay
  96. Suriname
  97. 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 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 43 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

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