Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 54 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
54
Illegal
54 regions (27%)
Illegal
48
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
48 regions (24%)
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
21 regions (48%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
9 regions (21%)

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 42 regions.

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

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

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

  1. Asia (9)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  4. Iraq
  5. Jordan
  6. Maldives Ambiguous
  7. Mongolia
  8. North Korea
  9. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  10. Yemen Ambiguous
  11. Europe (5)
  12. Azerbaijan
  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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