Global Blood Donations Rise, Yet Access Disparities Persist

Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates significant global progress toward safer blood supplies, but ongoing disparities in access to blood remain, as do challenges in governance, financing, and regulation of blood systems.

According to information from 132 countries, global blood donations increased by approximately 19% between 2013 and 2023. Voluntary, unpaid donors are crucial to this progress, contributing over 85% of the estimated 120 million blood donations received in 2023.

However, many patients, including women with severe postpartum hemorrhage, children with anemia, trauma patients, surgical patients, and individuals with conditions like sickle-cell disease or thalassemia, still face significant barriers to accessing safe blood, especially in lower-income regions.

Access Disparities

Despite these improvements, high-income countries, which account for only 15% of the global population, are responsible for 36% of all blood donations. In contrast, many low-income countries struggle with shortages due to limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, logistical challenges, and insufficient donor recruitment.

• Blood donation rates vary widely, from 0.4 to 53 donations per 1,000 people.
• In 24 countries, collection rates are below 5 donations per 1,000 people, posing significant challenges in delivering timely transfusions.
• Voluntary, unpaid donations constitute 98.4% of all donations in high-income countries but only 63.4% in low-income nations.

Effective governance and regulation are essential for ensuring safe blood supplies. WHO reports that nearly one-third of countries lack specific legislation to guarantee blood safety and quality. Additionally, only 64% of countries have systems for regular blood service inspections, 62% have licensing systems, and just 40% have any accredited blood transfusion services, illustrating noticeable gaps in quality assurance.

Financial and Regulatory Challenges

Sustainable financing is another significant hurdle, with more than one in seven countries lacking dedicated government budgets or cost-recovery mechanisms for blood services.

WHO calls for enhanced governance and regulation of blood services, sustainable financing, quality assurance program expansion, improved clinical transfusion practices, and strengthened surveillance and data systems. These measures are vital to ensuring universal access to safe, effective, and quality-assured blood products worldwide.

This dataset release coincides with World Blood Donor Day, observed annually on June 14. The campaign, themed “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives,” acknowledges the critical role of voluntary, unpaid blood donors in supporting healthcare systems and community resilience.

The Global Status Report on Blood Safety and Availability 2025 draws from data from 168 countries, representing 97% of the world’s population. This report offers the most comprehensive analysis of current blood systems, focusing on availability, transfusion safety, clinical use, access to plasma-derived medicines, and national blood system capacities. The findings primarily use 2023 data from the WHO Global Database on Blood Safety (GDBS).

The WHO continues to champion global health, aiming to ensure everyone has the opportunity for a safe, healthy life through science-driven initiatives. If you have any health concerns or questions about blood donations, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional.