Gender-affirming care

DATE

Gender-affirming care

Gender-affirming care refers to the suite of medical, psychological, and surgical interventions aimed at helping transgender and non-binary individuals align their physical bodies with their gender identity. This form of care is essential for many transgender people and can significantly improve their quality of life and mental health.

Components of gender-affirming care include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which adjusts the body's hormonal balance to reflect the patient's gender identity. Surgical options might include chest/breast construction or removal, genital reconstruction, and facial feminization or masculinization surgeries, among others. Beyond medical interventions, gender-affirming care also encompasses psychological support to help individuals navigate their transitions and cope with societal challenges they may face.

Despite its importance, access to gender-affirming care varies greatly across the globe. In some regions, it is readily available and covered by public health insurance, while in others, it can be prohibitively expensive or difficult to access due to legal restrictions or lack of medical providers trained in transgender health care. The legal environment in some countries may also impact the availability of these treatments, with some governments imposing restrictions or outright bans on certain aspects of transgender health care.

Summary

109
Legal
109 regions (55%)
Legal
48
Somewhere in between
48 regions (24%)
Somewhere in between
19
Banned
19 regions (10%)
Banned
21
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
21 regions (11%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
70%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
35 regions (70%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (20%)
Banned
3 regions (6%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (7%)
Banned
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
8 regions (57%)
South America
92%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
11 regions (92%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
North America
91%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
21 regions (91%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
19%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (19%)
Somewhere in between
26 regions (49%)
Banned
10 regions (19%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (13%)
Asia
59%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
26 regions (59%)
Somewhere in between
11 regions (25%)
Banned
6 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)

Timeline of gender-affirming care

Number of countries to over the past 61 years.

Recent & Upcoming Changes

Upcoming Changes

2024

2023

2022

Gender-affirming care by Country

Legal

Gender-affirming care is legal in 109 regions.

  1. Asia (26)
  2. Bahrain 1997
  3. Cambodia
  4. China 2002
  5. India 2019
  6. Israel 1998
  7. Japan 1995
  8. Jordan 2008
  9. Kazakhstan 2004
  10. Kyrgyzstan 2000
  11. Lebanon 2017
  12. Maldives 2000
  13. Mongolia 2016
  14. Palestine 2008
  15. Philippines 1999
  16. Qatar 1995
  17. Saudi Arabia 2009
  18. Singapore 2012
  19. South Korea 1997
  20. Sri Lanka 1997
  21. Syria 1998
  22. Taiwan 1997
  23. Tajikistan 2016
  24. Thailand 1994
  25. Turkmenistan 1999
  26. Uzbekistan 2004
  27. Vietnam 2008
  28. Europe (35)
  29. Andorra 2011
  30. Armenia 2006
  31. Austria 2002
  32. Belarus 2002
  33. Belgium 1998
  34. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2011
  35. Croatia 1995
  36. Cyprus 1999
  37. Czech Republic 1994
  38. Denmark 1994
  39. Estonia 2022
  40. France 1975
  41. Georgia 1998
  42. Germany
  43. Greece 2014
  44. Iceland 2019
  45. Italy 2003
  46. Latvia 1996
  47. Lithuania 1998
  48. Luxembourg 1998
  49. Malta
  50. Moldova 1996
  51. Montenegro 1997
  52. Netherlands 1996
  53. North Macedonia 2006
  54. Poland 1996
  55. Portugal 2002
  56. Romania 1999
  57. San Marino 1995
  58. Slovakia 1994
  59. Slovenia 1997
  60. Spain 1999
  61. Switzerland 1995
  62. Turkey 2009
  63. Ukraine 2005
  64. North America (21)
  65. Bahamas 1999
  66. Barbados 2000
  67. Belize 1997
  68. Canada 2000
  69. Costa Rica 1997
  70. Cuba 2008
  71. Dominica 2001
  72. Dominican Republic 1996
  73. El Salvador 1997
  74. Grenada 2001
  75. Guatemala 2005
  76. Haiti 1997
  77. Honduras 2008
  78. Jamaica 2000
  79. Mexico 1998
  80. Nicaragua 1997
  81. Panama 1998
  82. Saint Kitts and Nevis 1998
  83. Saint Lucia 1996
  84. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2000
  85. Trinidad and Tobago 1999
  86. Africa (10)
  87. Cape Verde 2011
  88. Equatorial Guinea
  89. Guinea
  90. Mauritius 2005
  91. Morocco 2000
  92. Mozambique
  93. Namibia 2015
  94. Seychelles 2001
  95. South Africa 1996
  96. Tunisia 2013
  97. Oceania (5)
  98. Australia 1998
  99. Fiji 2001
  100. Kiribati 1999
  101. New Zealand 2000
  102. Solomon Islands 2017
  103. South America (11)
  104. Argentina 1997
  105. Bolivia 2000
  106. Brazil 1996
  107. Chile 1997
  108. Colombia 1997
  109. Ecuador 1997
  110. Guyana 2001
  111. Peru 1999
  112. Suriname 1995
  113. Uruguay 1997
  114. Venezuela 1996
  115. Antarctica (1)
  116. Antarctica 2001

Legal, but restricted for minors

Gender-affirming care is legal, but restricted for minors in 12 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Pakistan 1993
  3. Europe (8)
  4. Finland 2020
  5. Hungary 2020
  6. Ireland
  7. Kosovo 1979
  8. Monaco 1986
  9. Norway 2023
  10. Serbia 2005
  11. Sweden 2022
  12. Africa (2)
  13. Sao Tome and Principe 1984
  14. Zimbabwe 1990
  15. Oceania (1)
  16. Papua New Guinea 1980

Legal, but banned for minors

Gender-affirming care is legal, but banned for minors in 8 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. United Kingdom 2024
  3. Africa (7)
  4. Benin
  5. Burkina Faso
  6. Burundi
  7. Guinea-Bissau
  8. Liberia
  9. Republic of the Congo
  10. Uganda

Restricted

Gender-affirming care is restricted in 28 regions.

  1. Asia (10)
  2. Bangladesh 1969
  3. Bhutan
  4. Brunei 1996
  5. Indonesia 1973
  6. Iran 1987
  7. Laos 2009
  8. Malaysia 1997
  9. Myanmar 1963
  10. Nepal 1988
  11. Timor-Leste
  12. Europe (1)
  13. Bulgaria 2005
  14. Africa (17)
  15. Angola 2015
  16. Botswana 1985
  17. Côte d’Ivoire
  18. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  19. Egypt 2003
  20. Ethiopia
  21. Ghana 1996
  22. Kenya 1986
  23. Lesotho 1994
  24. Libya
  25. Malawi
  26. Niger 1988
  27. Nigeria
  28. Rwanda 1986
  29. South Sudan 1990
  30. Sudan 1990
  31. Tanzania 1994

Banned

Gender-affirming care is banned in 19 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Iraq 2024
  4. Kuwait 2007
  5. Oman
  6. United Arab Emirates
  7. Yemen
  8. Europe (3)
  9. Albania
  10. Russia 2023
  11. Vatican City
  12. Africa (10)
  13. Algeria
  14. Cameroon
  15. Central African Republic
  16. Chad
  17. Djibouti
  18. Eritrea
  19. Madagascar
  20. Mauritania
  21. Somalia
  22. Zambia

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on gender-affirming care is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 21 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. North Korea
  3. Europe (2)
  4. Azerbaijan Ambiguous
  5. Liechtenstein Ambiguous
  6. North America (2)
  7. Antigua and Barbuda
  8. United States Varies by Region
  9. Africa (7)
  10. Comoros
  11. Eswatini
  12. Gabon Ambiguous
  13. Gambia
  14. Senegal
  15. Sierra Leone
  16. Togo Ambiguous
  17. Oceania (8)
  18. Federated States of Micronesia
  19. Marshall Islands
  20. Nauru
  21. Palau
  22. Samoa
  23. Tonga
  24. Tuvalu
  25. Vanuatu
  26. South America (1)
  27. Paraguay

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