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
47
Somewhere in between
47 regions (24%)
Somewhere in between
20
Banned
20 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
9 regions (18%)
Banned
4 regions (8%)
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
100%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
12 regions (100%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
87%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
20 regions (87%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (13%)
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. Germany
  42. Greece 2014
  43. Iceland 2019
  44. Italy 2003
  45. Latvia 1996
  46. Lithuania 1998
  47. Luxembourg 1998
  48. Malta
  49. Moldova 1996
  50. Montenegro 1997
  51. Netherlands 1996
  52. North Macedonia 2006
  53. Norway 1996
  54. Poland 1996
  55. Portugal 2002
  56. Romania 1999
  57. San Marino 1995
  58. Slovakia 1994
  59. Slovenia 1997
  60. Spain 2016
  61. Switzerland 1995
  62. Turkey 2009
  63. Ukraine 2005
  64. North America (20)
  65. Bahamas 1999
  66. Barbados 2000
  67. Belize 1997
  68. Costa Rica 1997
  69. Cuba 2008
  70. Dominica 2001
  71. Dominican Republic 1996
  72. El Salvador 1997
  73. Grenada 2001
  74. Guatemala 2005
  75. Haiti 1997
  76. Honduras 2008
  77. Jamaica 2000
  78. Mexico 1998
  79. Nicaragua 1997
  80. Panama 1998
  81. Saint Kitts and Nevis 1998
  82. Saint Lucia 1996
  83. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2000
  84. Trinidad and Tobago 1999
  85. Africa (10)
  86. Cape Verde 2011
  87. Equatorial Guinea
  88. Guinea
  89. Mauritius 2005
  90. Morocco 2000
  91. Mozambique
  92. Namibia 2015
  93. Seychelles 2001
  94. South Africa 1996
  95. Tunisia 2013
  96. Oceania (5)
  97. Australia 1998
  98. Fiji 2001
  99. Kiribati 1999
  100. New Zealand 2000
  101. Solomon Islands 2017
  102. South America (12)
  103. Argentina 1997
  104. Bolivia 2000
  105. Brazil 1996
  106. Chile 1997
  107. Colombia 1997
  108. Ecuador 1997
  109. Guyana 2001
  110. Paraguay 1996
  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 11 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Pakistan 1993
  3. Europe (7)
  4. Finland 2020
  5. Hungary 2020
  6. Ireland
  7. Kosovo 1979
  8. Monaco 1986
  9. Serbia 2005
  10. Sweden 2022
  11. Africa (2)
  12. Sao Tome and Principe 1984
  13. Zimbabwe 1990
  14. Oceania (1)
  15. 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 20 regions.

  1. Asia (6)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Iraq 2024
  4. Kuwait 2007
  5. Oman
  6. United Arab Emirates
  7. Yemen
  8. Europe (4)
  9. Albania
  10. Georgia 2024
  11. Russia 2023
  12. Vatican City
  13. Africa (10)
  14. Algeria
  15. Cameroon
  16. Central African Republic
  17. Chad
  18. Djibouti
  19. Eritrea
  20. Madagascar
  21. Mauritania
  22. Somalia
  23. 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 (3)
  7. Antigua and Barbuda
  8. Canada Varies by Region
  9. United States Varies by Region
  10. Africa (7)
  11. Comoros
  12. Eswatini
  13. Gabon Ambiguous
  14. Gambia
  15. Senegal
  16. Sierra Leone
  17. Togo Ambiguous
  18. Oceania (8)
  19. Federated States of Micronesia
  20. Marshall Islands
  21. Nauru
  22. Palau
  23. Samoa
  24. Tonga
  25. Tuvalu
  26. Vanuatu

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