Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 57 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

63
Legal
63 regions (32%)
Legal
4
Somewhere in between
4 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
57
Illegal
57 regions (29%)
Illegal
74
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
74 regions (37%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
62%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
31 regions (62%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (14%)
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
7%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
4 regions (7%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
32 regions (59%)
Asia
21%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
9 regions (21%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
24 regions (55%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
11 regions (25%)

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

2024

2023

2022

Blood donations by MSMs by Country

Legal

Blood donations by MSMs is legal in 63 regions.

  1. Asia (9)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Laos
  6. Myanmar
  7. Nepal
  8. South Korea
  9. Timor-Leste 2022
  10. Vietnam
  11. Europe (31)
  12. Albania 2008
  13. Andorra 2011
  14. Armenia
  15. Austria 2022
  16. Belarus
  17. Cyprus 2022
  18. Czech Republic 2024
  19. Denmark 2024
  20. Estonia 2024
  21. Finland 2023
  22. France 2022
  23. Germany 2023
  24. Greece 2022
  25. Hungary 2020
  26. Ireland 2022
  27. Italy 2001
  28. Latvia
  29. Lithuania 2022
  30. Malta 2022
  31. Montenegro 2014
  32. Netherlands 2024
  33. North Macedonia 2009
  34. Poland
  35. Portugal 2010
  36. Romania 2008
  37. Russia 2008
  38. San Marino 1958
  39. Slovenia 2022
  40. Spain 1976
  41. Switzerland 2023
  42. United Kingdom 2021
  43. North America (9)
  44. Canada 2022
  45. Costa Rica 2007
  46. Cuba 1979
  47. Dominican Republic
  48. Guatemala
  49. Haiti
  50. Honduras 2024
  51. Mexico 2012
  52. United States 2023
  53. Africa (4)
  54. Benin
  55. Liberia
  56. Namibia
  57. South Africa 2014
  58. Oceania (1)
  59. Fiji
  60. South America (9)
  61. Argentina 2015
  62. Bolivia 2019
  63. Brazil 2020
  64. Chile 2013
  65. Colombia 2012
  66. Ecuador
  67. Guyana
  68. Paraguay
  69. 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
  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 44 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. Tajikistan
  20. Thailand
  21. United Arab Emirates
  22. Uzbekistan
  23. Europe (5)
  24. Croatia 1999
  25. Iceland
  26. Kosovo
  27. Moldova
  28. Turkey 1980
  29. North America (1)
  30. Panama
  31. Africa (16)
  32. Algeria
  33. Central African Republic
  34. Comoros
  35. Côte d’Ivoire
  36. Eritrea 1957
  37. Ethiopia
  38. Gabon
  39. Gambia
  40. Ghana
  41. Guinea
  42. Mauritania 2016
  43. Mauritius
  44. Morocco
  45. Rwanda
  46. Senegal
  47. Tanzania
  48. South America (1)
  49. Venezuela 2017

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on blood donations by msms is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 74 regions.

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

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