Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 65 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

115
Legal
115 regions (58%)
Legal
3
Somewhere in between
3 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
65
Illegal
65 regions (33%)
Illegal
15
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
15 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
76%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
38 regions (76%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
9 regions (18%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
71%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (71%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
4 regions (29%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
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
8 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
54%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
29 regions (54%)
Somewhere in between
2 regions (4%)
Illegal
19 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (7%)
Asia
34%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
15 regions (34%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
24 regions (55%)
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

2026

2025

2024

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 115 regions.

  1. Asia (15)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Iran
  5. Israel 2021
  6. Laos
  7. Myanmar
  8. Nepal
  9. North Korea
  10. Palestine
  11. Qatar
  12. Saudi Arabia
  13. South Korea
  14. Timor-Leste
  15. Uzbekistan
  16. Vietnam
  17. Europe (38)
  18. Albania
  19. Andorra 2011
  20. Armenia
  21. Austria 2022
  22. Azerbaijan
  23. Belarus
  24. Cyprus 2022
  25. Czechia 2024
  26. Denmark 2024
  27. Estonia 2024
  28. Finland 2023
  29. France 2022
  30. Georgia 2017
  31. Germany 2023
  32. Hungary 2020
  33. Iceland 2025
  34. Ireland 2022
  35. Italy 2001
  36. Latvia
  37. Liechtenstein 2022
  38. Lithuania 2022
  39. Malta 2022
  40. Monaco
  41. Montenegro 2014
  42. Netherlands 2024
  43. North Macedonia 2009
  44. Norway 2024
  45. Poland
  46. Portugal 2010
  47. Romania 2008
  48. Russia 2008
  49. San Marino 1958
  50. Serbia 2025
  51. Slovenia 2022
  52. Spain
  53. Switzerland 2023
  54. Ukraine
  55. United Kingdom 2021
  56. North America (13)
  57. Antigua and Barbuda
  58. Bahamas
  59. Belize
  60. Canada 2022
  61. Costa Rica 2007
  62. Cuba
  63. Dominican Republic
  64. Haiti
  65. Honduras 2024
  66. Mexico 2012
  67. Nicaragua
  68. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  69. United States 2023
  70. Africa (29)
  71. Algeria
  72. Angola
  73. Benin
  74. Burkina Faso
  75. Burundi
  76. Cameroon
  77. Chad
  78. Comoros
  79. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  80. Egypt
  81. Equatorial Guinea
  82. Eswatini
  83. Ethiopia
  84. Guinea
  85. Kenya 2022
  86. Lesotho
  87. Liberia
  88. Mali
  89. Mozambique
  90. Namibia
  91. Niger
  92. Republic of the Congo
  93. Senegal
  94. Seychelles
  95. South Africa 2014
  96. South Sudan 2014
  97. Togo
  98. Zambia
  99. Zimbabwe
  100. Oceania (10)
  101. Australia 2025
  102. Kiribati
  103. New Zealand 2026
  104. Palau
  105. Papua New Guinea
  106. Samoa
  107. Solomon Islands
  108. Tonga
  109. Tuvalu
  110. Vanuatu
  111. South America (10)
  112. Argentina 2015
  113. Bolivia 2019
  114. Brazil 2020
  115. Chile 2013
  116. Colombia 2012
  117. Ecuador
  118. Guyana
  119. Paraguay
  120. Suriname
  121. 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 2 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Belgium 2023
  3. North America (1)
  4. Trinidad and Tobago 2023

Banned (6-month deferral)

Blood donations by MSMs is banned (6-month deferral) in 2 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Japan 2011
  3. Europe (1)
  4. 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 56 regions.

  1. Asia (21)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Iraq
  8. Jordan
  9. Kuwait
  10. Kyrgyzstan
  11. Lebanon
  12. Malaysia
  13. Mongolia
  14. Oman
  15. Pakistan
  16. Philippines
  17. Singapore 1992
  18. Sri Lanka
  19. Syria
  20. Tajikistan
  21. Thailand
  22. United Arab Emirates
  23. Europe (5)
  24. Croatia 1999
  25. Greece 2025
  26. Kosovo
  27. Moldova 1993
  28. Turkey
  29. North America (7)
  30. Dominica
  31. El Salvador 2010
  32. Grenada
  33. Guatemala
  34. Panama 2001
  35. Saint Lucia
  36. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  37. Africa (18)
  38. Botswana
  39. Central African Republic
  40. Côte d’Ivoire
  41. Eritrea 1957
  42. Gabon
  43. Gambia
  44. Ghana
  45. Guinea-Bissau
  46. Madagascar
  47. Mauritania 2016
  48. Mauritius
  49. Morocco
  50. Rwanda
  51. Sao Tome and Principe
  52. Sierra Leone
  53. Sudan
  54. Tanzania
  55. Uganda
  56. Oceania (4)
  57. Federated States of Micronesia
  58. Fiji
  59. Marshall Islands
  60. Nauru
  61. South America (1)
  62. Venezuela

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 15 regions.

  1. Asia (5)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Maldives Ambiguous
  5. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  6. Yemen Ambiguous
  7. Europe (2)
  8. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  9. Vatican City N/A
  10. North America (2)
  11. Barbados Ambiguous
  12. Jamaica Ambiguous
  13. Africa (4)
  14. Djibouti Ambiguous
  15. Malawi Ambiguous
  16. Somalia Ambiguous
  17. Tunisia N/A
  18. South America (1)
  19. Peru Ambiguous
  20. Antarctica (1)
  21. Antarctica N/A

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