Blood donations by MSMs

Men who have sex with men are banned from donating blood in 59 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

100
Legal
100 regions (51%)
Legal
4
Somewhere in between
4 regions (2%)
Somewhere in between
59
Illegal
59 regions (30%)
Illegal
35
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
35 regions (18%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
72%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
36 regions (72%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
11 regions (22%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
Oceania
71%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
10 regions (71%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
3 regions (21%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
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
78%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
18 regions (78%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (4%)
Illegal
2 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
28%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
15 regions (28%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (2%)
Illegal
17 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
21 regions (39%)
Asia
27%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
12 regions (27%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Illegal
25 regions (57%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
7 regions (16%)

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 100 regions.

  1. Asia (12)
  2. Bhutan
  3. Cambodia
  4. Israel 2021
  5. Jordan
  6. Laos
  7. Maldives
  8. Mongolia
  9. Nepal
  10. Saudi Arabia
  11. South Korea
  12. Timor-Leste 2022
  13. Vietnam
  14. Europe (36)
  15. Albania 2008
  16. Andorra 2011
  17. Armenia
  18. Austria 2022
  19. Azerbaijan
  20. Belarus
  21. Cyprus 2022
  22. Czech Republic 2024
  23. Denmark 2024
  24. Estonia 2024
  25. Finland 2023
  26. France 2022
  27. Georgia 2017
  28. Germany 2023
  29. Greece 2022
  30. Hungary 2020
  31. Ireland 2022
  32. Italy 2001
  33. Latvia
  34. Liechtenstein
  35. Lithuania 2022
  36. Malta 2022
  37. Monaco
  38. Montenegro 2014
  39. Netherlands 2024
  40. North Macedonia 2009
  41. Poland
  42. Portugal 2010
  43. Romania 2008
  44. Russia 2008
  45. San Marino 1958
  46. Slovenia 2022
  47. Spain 1976
  48. Switzerland 2023
  49. Ukraine 2016
  50. United Kingdom 2021
  51. North America (18)
  52. Bahamas
  53. Barbados
  54. Belize
  55. Canada 2022
  56. Costa Rica 2007
  57. Cuba 1979
  58. Dominica
  59. Dominican Republic
  60. Grenada 2012
  61. Guatemala
  62. Haiti
  63. Honduras 2024
  64. Mexico 2012
  65. Nicaragua
  66. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  67. Saint Lucia
  68. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  69. United States 2023
  70. Africa (15)
  71. Angola
  72. Benin
  73. Botswana
  74. Guinea-Bissau
  75. Lesotho
  76. Liberia
  77. Madagascar
  78. Mauritius
  79. Mozambique
  80. Namibia
  81. Sao Tome and Principe
  82. Seychelles
  83. Sierra Leone
  84. South Africa 2014
  85. Tunisia 1957
  86. Oceania (10)
  87. Fiji
  88. Kiribati
  89. Marshall Islands
  90. Nauru
  91. Palau
  92. Papua New Guinea 2016
  93. Solomon Islands
  94. Tonga
  95. Tuvalu
  96. Vanuatu
  97. South America (9)
  98. Argentina 2015
  99. Bolivia 2019
  100. Brazil 2020
  101. Chile 2013
  102. Colombia 2012
  103. Ecuador
  104. Guyana
  105. Paraguay
  106. 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 2021
  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 4 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Kazakhstan 2022
  3. Europe (2)
  4. Luxembourg 2021
  5. Slovakia
  6. Oceania (1)
  7. Samoa

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 (22)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Bahrain
  4. Brunei
  5. China 2012
  6. India 2017
  7. Iran
  8. Kuwait
  9. Kyrgyzstan
  10. Lebanon
  11. Malaysia
  12. Myanmar
  13. Oman
  14. Pakistan
  15. Palestine
  16. Philippines
  17. Qatar 1915
  18. Singapore
  19. Sri Lanka
  20. Tajikistan
  21. Thailand
  22. United Arab Emirates
  23. Uzbekistan
  24. Europe (5)
  25. Croatia 1999
  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. Libya
  44. Mauritania 2016
  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 35 regions.

  1. Asia (7)
  2. Bangladesh Ambiguous
  3. Indonesia Ambiguous
  4. Iraq
  5. North Korea
  6. Syria Ambiguous
  7. Turkmenistan Ambiguous
  8. Yemen Ambiguous
  9. Europe (2)
  10. Bosnia and Herzegovina Varies by Region
  11. Vatican City N/A
  12. North America (2)
  13. Antigua and Barbuda
  14. Jamaica Ambiguous
  15. Africa (21)
  16. Burkina Faso Ambiguous
  17. Burundi Ambiguous
  18. Cameroon
  19. Chad Ambiguous
  20. Democratic Republic of the Congo Ambiguous
  21. Djibouti Ambiguous
  22. Egypt
  23. Equatorial Guinea Ambiguous
  24. Eswatini Ambiguous
  25. Kenya Ambiguous
  26. Malawi N/A
  27. Mali Ambiguous
  28. Niger Ambiguous
  29. Republic of the Congo Ambiguous
  30. Somalia Ambiguous
  31. South Sudan N/A
  32. Sudan
  33. Togo Ambiguous
  34. Uganda
  35. Zambia N/A
  36. Zimbabwe Ambiguous
  37. Oceania (1)
  38. Federated States of Micronesia
  39. South America (1)
  40. Suriname Ambiguous
  41. Antarctica (1)
  42. Antarctica N/A

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