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

121
Legal
121 regions (61%)
Legal
44
Somewhere in between
44 regions (22%)
Somewhere in between
14
Banned
14 regions (7%)
Banned
18
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
18 regions (9%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
Europe
78%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
39 regions (78%)
Somewhere in between
9 regions (18%)
Banned
1 regions (2%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
36%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
5 regions (36%)
Somewhere in between
1 regions (7%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
8 regions (57%)
South America
100%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
12 regions (100%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
regions (0%)
North America
96%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
22 regions (96%)
Somewhere in between
regions (0%)
Banned
regions (0%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
1 regions (4%)
Africa
23%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
12 regions (23%)
Somewhere in between
24 regions (45%)
Banned
10 regions (19%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
7 regions (13%)
Asia
68%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Legal
30 regions (68%)
Somewhere in between
10 regions (23%)
Banned
3 regions (7%)
No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous
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 121 regions.

  1. Asia (30)
  2. Bahrain 1997
  3. Cambodia
  4. China 2002
  5. India 2019
  6. Iran 2013
  7. Israel 1998
  8. Japan 1995
  9. Jordan 2008
  10. Kazakhstan 2004
  11. Kuwait 1995
  12. Kyrgyzstan 2000
  13. Lebanon 2017
  14. Maldives 2000
  15. Mongolia 2016
  16. Oman 2009
  17. Palestine 2008
  18. Philippines 1999
  19. Qatar 1995
  20. Saudi Arabia 2009
  21. Singapore 2012
  22. South Korea 1997
  23. Sri Lanka 1997
  24. Syria 1998
  25. Taiwan 1997
  26. Tajikistan 2016
  27. Thailand 1994
  28. Turkmenistan 1999
  29. United Arab Emirates 2018
  30. Uzbekistan 2004
  31. Vietnam 2008
  32. Europe (39)
  33. Andorra 2011
  34. Armenia 2006
  35. Austria 2002
  36. Azerbaijan 2001
  37. Belarus 2002
  38. Belgium 1998
  39. Bosnia and Herzegovina 2011
  40. Bulgaria 2005
  41. Croatia 1995
  42. Cyprus 1999
  43. Czech Republic 1994
  44. Denmark 1994
  45. Estonia 2022
  46. France 2000
  47. Georgia 1998
  48. Germany 1998
  49. Greece 2014
  50. Hungary 1996
  51. Iceland 2019
  52. Ireland 2007
  53. Italy 2003
  54. Latvia 1996
  55. Lithuania 1998
  56. Luxembourg 1998
  57. Malta
  58. Moldova 1996
  59. Montenegro 1997
  60. Netherlands 1996
  61. North Macedonia 2006
  62. Poland 1996
  63. Portugal 2002
  64. Romania 1999
  65. San Marino 1995
  66. Slovakia 1994
  67. Slovenia 1997
  68. Spain 1999
  69. Switzerland 1995
  70. Turkey 2009
  71. Ukraine 2005
  72. North America (22)
  73. Antigua and Barbuda 1998
  74. Bahamas 1999
  75. Barbados 2000
  76. Belize 1997
  77. Canada 2000
  78. Costa Rica 1997
  79. Cuba 2008
  80. Dominica 2001
  81. Dominican Republic 1996
  82. El Salvador 1997
  83. Grenada 2001
  84. Guatemala 2005
  85. Haiti 1997
  86. Honduras 2008
  87. Jamaica 2000
  88. Mexico 1998
  89. Nicaragua 1997
  90. Panama 1998
  91. Saint Kitts and Nevis 1998
  92. Saint Lucia 1996
  93. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2000
  94. Trinidad and Tobago 1999
  95. Africa (12)
  96. Cape Verde 2011
  97. Egypt 2000
  98. Equatorial Guinea
  99. Guinea
  100. Libya 2016
  101. Mauritius 2005
  102. Morocco 2000
  103. Mozambique
  104. Namibia 2015
  105. Seychelles 2001
  106. South Africa 1996
  107. Tunisia 2013
  108. Oceania (5)
  109. Australia 1998
  110. Fiji 2001
  111. Kiribati 1999
  112. New Zealand 2000
  113. Solomon Islands 2017
  114. South America (12)
  115. Argentina 1997
  116. Bolivia 2000
  117. Brazil 1996
  118. Chile 1997
  119. Colombia 1997
  120. Ecuador 1997
  121. Guyana 2001
  122. Paraguay 1996
  123. Peru 1999
  124. Suriname 1995
  125. Uruguay 1997
  126. Venezuela 1996
  127. Antarctica (1)
  128. Antarctica 2001

Legal, but restricted for minors

Gender-affirming care is legal, but restricted for minors in 12 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. Pakistan 1993
  3. Europe (8)
  4. Albania 2009
  5. Finland 2020
  6. Kosovo 1979
  7. Monaco 1986
  8. Norway 2023
  9. Serbia 2005
  10. Sweden 2021
  11. United Kingdom 2024
  12. Africa (2)
  13. Sao Tome and Principe 1984
  14. Zimbabwe 1990
  15. Oceania (1)
  16. Papua New Guinea 1980

Legal, but banned for minors

Gender-affirming care is legal, but banned for minors in 7 regions.

  1. Africa (7)
  2. Benin
  3. Burkina Faso
  4. Burundi
  5. Guinea-Bissau
  6. Liberia
  7. Republic of the Congo
  8. Uganda

Restricted

Gender-affirming care is restricted in 25 regions.

  1. Asia (9)
  2. Bangladesh 1969
  3. Bhutan
  4. Brunei 1996
  5. Indonesia 1973
  6. Laos 2009
  7. Malaysia 1997
  8. Myanmar 1963
  9. Nepal 1988
  10. Timor-Leste
  11. Europe (1)
  12. Liechtenstein 1987
  13. Africa (15)
  14. Angola 2015
  15. Botswana 1985
  16. Côte d’Ivoire
  17. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  18. Ethiopia
  19. Ghana 1996
  20. Kenya 1986
  21. Lesotho 1994
  22. Malawi
  23. Niger 1988
  24. Nigeria 1992
  25. Rwanda 1986
  26. South Sudan 1990
  27. Sudan 1990
  28. Tanzania 1994

Banned

Gender-affirming care is banned in 14 regions.

  1. Asia (3)
  2. Afghanistan
  3. Iraq 2024
  4. Yemen
  5. Europe (1)
  6. Russia 2023
  7. Africa (10)
  8. Algeria
  9. Cameroon
  10. Central African Republic
  11. Chad
  12. Djibouti
  13. Eritrea
  14. Madagascar
  15. Mauritania
  16. Somalia
  17. Zambia

No data, no laws, N/A, or ambiguous

Data on gender-affirming care is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 18 regions.

  1. Asia (1)
  2. North Korea
  3. Europe (1)
  4. Vatican City
  5. North America (1)
  6. United States
  7. Africa (7)
  8. Comoros
  9. Eswatini
  10. Gabon
  11. Gambia
  12. Senegal
  13. Sierra Leone
  14. Togo
  15. Oceania (8)
  16. Federated States of Micronesia
  17. Marshall Islands
  18. Nauru
  19. Palau
  20. Samoa
  21. Tonga
  22. Tuvalu
  23. Vanuatu

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