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

117
Legal
117 regions (59%)
Legal
33
Somewhere in between
33 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
8
Banned
8 regions (4%)
Banned
39
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
39 regions (20%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
78%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
39 regions (78%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (18%)
Banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (7%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (57%)
South America
100%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
12 regions (100%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
96%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
22 regions (96%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
Africa
17%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (17%)
Somewhere in between
16 regions (30%)
Banned
3 regions (6%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
25 regions (47%)
Asia
66%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
29 regions (66%)
Somewhere in between
7 regions (16%)
Banned
4 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
4 regions (9%)

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 117 regions.

  1. Asia (29)
  2. Bahrain 1997
  3. China 2002
  4. India 2019
  5. Iran 2013
  6. Israel 1998
  7. Japan 1995
  8. Jordan 2008
  9. Kazakhstan 2004
  10. Kuwait 1995
  11. Kyrgyzstan 2000
  12. Lebanon 2017
  13. Maldives 2000
  14. Mongolia 2016
  15. Oman 2009
  16. Palestine 2008
  17. Philippines 1999
  18. Qatar 1995
  19. Saudi Arabia 2009
  20. Singapore 2012
  21. South Korea 1997
  22. Sri Lanka 1997
  23. Syria 1998
  24. Taiwan 1997
  25. Tajikistan 2016
  26. Thailand 1994
  27. Turkmenistan 1999
  28. United Arab Emirates 2018
  29. Uzbekistan 2004
  30. Vietnam 2008
  31. Europe (39)
  32. Andorra 2011
  33. Armenia 2006
  34. Austria 2002
  35. Azerbaijan 2001
  36. Belarus 2002
  37. Belgium 1998
  38. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2011
  39. Bulgaria 2005
  40. Croatia 1995
  41. Cyprus 1999
  42. Czech Republic 1994
  43. Denmark 1994
  44. Estonia 2022
  45. France 2000
  46. Georgia 1998
  47. Germany 1998
  48. Greece 2014
  49. Hungary 1996
  50. Iceland 2019
  51. Ireland 2007
  52. Italy 2003
  53. Latvia 1996
  54. Lithuania 1998
  55. Luxembourg 1998
  56. Malta
  57. Moldova 1996
  58. Montenegro 1997
  59. Netherlands 1996
  60. North Macedonia 2006
  61. Poland 1996
  62. Portugal 2002
  63. Romania 1999
  64. San Marino 1995
  65. Slovakia 1994
  66. Slovenia 1997
  67. Spain 1999
  68. Switzerland 1995
  69. Turkey 2009
  70. Ukraine 2005
  71. North America (22)
  72. Antigua and Barbuda 1998
  73. Bahamas 1999
  74. Barbados 2000
  75. Belize 1997
  76. Canada 2000
  77. Costa Rica 1997
  78. Cuba 2008
  79. Dominica 2001
  80. Dominican Republic 1996
  81. El Salvador 1997
  82. Grenada 2001
  83. Guatemala 2005
  84. Haiti 1997
  85. Honduras 2008
  86. Jamaica 2000
  87. Mexico 1998
  88. Nicaragua 1997
  89. Panama 1998
  90. Saint Kitts and Nevis 1998
  91. Saint Lucia 1996
  92. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2000
  93. Trinidad and Tobago 1999
  94. Africa (9)
  95. Cape Verde 2011
  96. Egypt 2000
  97. Libya 2016
  98. Mauritius 2005
  99. Morocco 2000
  100. Namibia 2015
  101. Seychelles 2001
  102. South Africa 1996
  103. Tunisia 2013
  104. Oceania (5)
  105. Australia 1998
  106. Fiji 2001
  107. Kiribati 1999
  108. New Zealand 2000
  109. Solomon Islands 2017
  110. South America (12)
  111. Argentina 1997
  112. Bolivia 2000
  113. Brazil 1996
  114. Chile 1997
  115. Colombia 1997
  116. Ecuador 1997
  117. Guyana 2001
  118. Paraguay 1996
  119. Peru 1999
  120. Suriname 1995
  121. Uruguay 1997
  122. Venezuela 1996
  123. Antarctica (1)
  124. Antarctica 2001

Restricted for minors

Gender-Affirming Care is restricted for minors in 12 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Pakistan 1993
  3. Europe (8)
  4. Albania 2009
  5. Finland 2020
  6. Kosovo 1979
  7. Monaco 1986
  8. Norway 2023
  9. Serbia 2005
  10. Sweden 2021
  11. United Kingdom 2024
  12. Africa (2)
  13. Sao Tome and Principe 1984
  14. Zimbabwe 1990
  15. Oceania (1)
  16. Papua New Guinea 1980

Restricted

Gender-Affirming Care is restricted in 21 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. Bangladesh 1969
  3. Indonesia 1973
  4. Laos 2009
  5. Myanmar 1963
  6. Nepal 1988
  7. Timor-Leste
  8. Europe (1)
  9. Liechtenstein 1987
  10. Africa (14)
  11. Angola 2015
  12. Botswana 1985
  13. Côte d’Ivoire
  14. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  15. Ethiopia
  16. Ghana 1996
  17. Kenya 1986
  18. Lesotho 1994
  19. Niger 1988
  20. Nigeria 1992
  21. Rwanda 1986
  22. South Sudan 1990
  23. Sudan 1990
  24. Tanzania 1994

Banned

Gender-Affirming Care is banned in 8 regions.

  1. Asia (4)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Brunei
  4. Iraq 2024
  5. Malaysia 1983
  6. Europe (1)
  7. Russia 2023
  8. Africa (3)
  9. Algeria
  10. Mauritania
  11. Zambia

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on gender-affirming care is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 39 regions.

  1. Asia (4)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. North Korea
  5. Yemen
  6. Europe (1)
  7. Vatican City
  8. North America (1)
  9. United States
  10. Africa (25)
  11. Benin
  12. Burkina Faso
  13. Burundi
  14. Cameroon
  15. Central African Republic
  16. Chad
  17. Comoros
  18. Djibouti
  19. Equatorial Guinea
  20. Eritrea
  21. Eswatini
  22. Gabon
  23. Gambia
  24. Guinea
  25. Guinea-Bissau
  26. Liberia
  27. Madagascar
  28. Malawi
  29. Mozambique
  30. Republic of the Congo
  31. Senegal
  32. Sierra Leone
  33. Somalia
  34. Togo
  35. Uganda
  36. Oceania (8)
  37. Federated States of Micronesia
  38. Marshall Islands
  39. Nauru
  40. Palau
  41. Samoa
  42. Tonga
  43. Tuvalu
  44. Vanuatu

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