Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 58 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

66
Legal
66 regions (33%)
Legal
4
Somewhere in between
4 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
58
Illegal
58 regions (29%)
Illegal
70
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
70 regions (35%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
62%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
31 regions (62%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
12 regions (24%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
6 regions (12%)
Oceania
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
1 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
2 regions (14%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (79%)
South America
75%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (75%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (8%)
Illegal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (8%)
North America
39%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (39%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (48%)
Africa
9%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (9%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
31 regions (57%)
Asia
25%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
11 regions (25%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
24 regions (55%)
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 & Upcoming Changes

Upcoming Changes

2025

2024

2023

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 66 regions.

  1. Asia (11)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Laos
  6. Myanmar
  7. Nepal
  8. Saudi Arabia
  9. South Korea
  10. Timor-Leste 2022
  11. Uzbekistan
  12. Vietnam
  13. Europe (31)
  14. Albania 2008
  15. Andorra 2011
  16. Armenia
  17. Austria 2022
  18. Belarus
  19. Cyprus 2022
  20. Czechia 2024
  21. Denmark 2024
  22. Estonia 2024
  23. Finland 2023
  24. France 2022
  25. Germany 2023
  26. Hungary 2020
  27. Ireland 2022
  28. Italy 2001
  29. Latvia
  30. Lithuania 2022
  31. Malta 2022
  32. Montenegro 2014
  33. Netherlands 2024
  34. North Macedonia 2009
  35. Poland
  36. Portugal 2010
  37. Romania 2008
  38. Russia 2008
  39. San Marino 1958
  40. Slovenia 2022
  41. Spain 1976
  42. Switzerland 2023
  43. Ukraine
  44. United Kingdom 2021
  45. North America (9)
  46. Canada 2022
  47. Costa Rica 2007
  48. Cuba 1979
  49. Dominican Republic
  50. Guatemala
  51. Haiti
  52. Honduras 2024
  53. Mexico 2012
  54. United States 2023
  55. Africa (5)
  56. Benin
  57. Egypt
  58. Liberia
  59. Namibia
  60. South Africa 2014
  61. Oceania (1)
  62. Fiji
  63. South America (9)
  64. Argentina 2015
  65. Bolivia 2019
  66. Brazil 2020
  67. Chile 2013
  68. Colombia 2012
  69. Ecuador
  70. Guyana
  71. Paraguay
  72. Uruguay 2020

Legal with restrictions

Blood donations by MSMs is legal with restrictions in 4 regions.

  1. Europe (1)
  2. Bulgaria
  3. North America (1)
  4. El Salvador
  5. Africa (1)
  6. Cape Verde
  7. South America (1)
  8. Peru

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 45 regions.

  1. Asia (21)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Iran
  8. Kuwait
  9. Kyrgyzstan
  10. Lebanon
  11. Malaysia
  12. Oman
  13. Pakistan
  14. Palestine
  15. Philippines
  16. Qatar 1915
  17. Singapore
  18. Sri Lanka
  19. Syria
  20. Tajikistan
  21. Thailand
  22. United Arab Emirates
  23. Europe (6)
  24. Croatia 1999
  25. Greece 2025
  26. Iceland
  27. Kosovo
  28. Moldova
  29. Turkey 1980
  30. North America (1)
  31. Panama
  32. Africa (16)
  33. Algeria
  34. Central African Republic
  35. Comoros
  36. Côte d’Ivoire
  37. Eritrea 1957
  38. Ethiopia
  39. Gabon
  40. Gambia
  41. Ghana
  42. Guinea
  43. Mauritania 2016
  44. Mauritius
  45. Morocco
  46. Rwanda
  47. Senegal
  48. Tanzania
  49. South America (1)
  50. Venezuela 2017

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 70 regions.

  1. Asia (9)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Iraq
  5. Jordan
  6. Maldives Ambiguous
  7. Mongolia
  8. North Korea
  9. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  10. Yemen Ambiguous
  11. Europe (6)
  12. Azerbaijan
  13. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  14. Georgia
  15. Liechtenstein
  16. Monaco
  17. Vatican City N/A
  18. North America (11)
  19. Antigua and Barbuda
  20. Bahamas
  21. Barbados Ambiguous
  22. Belize
  23. Dominica
  24. Grenada
  25. Jamaica Ambiguous
  26. Nicaragua
  27. Saint Kitts and Nevis N/A
  28. Saint Lucia
  29. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  30. Africa (31)
  31. Angola N/A
  32. Botswana Ambiguous
  33. Burkina Faso Ambiguous
  34. Burundi Ambiguous
  35. Cameroon
  36. Chad Ambiguous
  37. Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambiguous
  38. Djibouti Ambiguous
  39. Equatorial Guinea Ambiguous
  40. Eswatini Ambiguous
  41. Guinea-Bissau
  42. Kenya Ambiguous
  43. Lesotho
  44. Libya
  45. Madagascar
  46. Malawi Ambiguous
  47. Mali Ambiguous
  48. Mozambique
  49. Niger Ambiguous
  50. Republic of the Congo Ambiguous
  51. Sao Tome and Principe
  52. Seychelles
  53. Sierra Leone
  54. Somalia Ambiguous
  55. South Sudan N/A
  56. Sudan
  57. Togo Ambiguous
  58. Tunisia N/A
  59. Uganda
  60. Zambia N/A
  61. Zimbabwe Ambiguous
  62. Oceania (11)
  63. Federated States of Micronesia
  64. Kiribati
  65. Marshall Islands
  66. Nauru
  67. Palau
  68. Papua New Guinea
  69. Samoa
  70. Solomon Islands
  71. Tonga
  72. Tuvalu
  73. Vanuatu
  74. South America (1)
  75. Suriname Ambiguous
  76. Antarctica (1)
  77. Antarctica N/A

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