Sperm Donation Laws by Country 2024

Sperm donation can be a controversial topic. Some consider it part of a miracle process that helps those who can't conceive have children, while others oppose it for religious, cultural, or other reasons. As a result, laws can vary widely around the world.

Ten nations allow anyone to become a recipient of donated sperm. These include the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The remainder are all located in Europe. Four countries only allow heterosexual married couples to receive donations - Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, and Austria. Cyprus also allows single women, while Sweden permits it for any married or cohabitating couples.

Seven countries allow donors to remain fully anonymous, including Japan, France, Spain, Canada, and Bulgaria. In the United States, it varies, as it does in Belgium and Denmark. Portugal and Finland allow people born from donated sperm to learn their donor's identity on their 18th birthday. Nine nations don't provide any anonymity, like the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. There are no definitive trends regionally or otherwise when it comes to anonymity.

Certain nations also set limits for sperm donors. For example, Finnish donors can produce unlimited children, but only for five families in total. Others, like Austria or Hong Kong, strictly limit donors to three children. Some include a mix, though most have limits of around 5-12 children per donor. On the other hand, the United States and Japan have no enforced limits.

Laws even vary about whether sperm donors can be compensated. Several, like New Zealand, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway, limit it to expenses related to donations. Other have ranges, like Denmark's 200-500 DKK ($28-$70 USD) or set levels like Portugal's 43.88€ (about $46 USD.) In many others, including the United States, it varies depending on the donor, recipient, and other circumstances.