National Blood Donation Rate Rises Slightly to 5.6% Last Year... 36% of Donors in Their 20s

Blood Donor Day: Ministry of Health and Welfare Honors Individual with 704 Donations

Last year, the blood donation rate among South Koreans reached 5.6%, continuing a slight upward trend.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Red Cross on June 12, the total number of blood donations, including both individuals and organizations, amounted to 2,856,000 cases last year.

Out of the total South Korean population of 51,217,000, the national blood donation rate stood at 5.6%. This marks a continued modest increase following 5.0% in 2021, 5.2% in 2022, and 5.4% in 2023. Since falling from 6.1% in 2015 to 5.6% in 2016, the national blood donation rate has consistently remained in the 5% range.

In 2024, South Korea’s blood donation rate was lower than Taiwan (8.1%) and Australia (6.2%) as of 2023, but higher than the Netherlands (4.2%), Japan (4.0%), and the United Kingdom (2.7%).

By age group, those in their 20s accounted for the largest share at 35.5%, followed by teenagers (19.3%), those in their 40s (16.9%), those in their 30s (15.9%), those in their 50s (10.4%), and those aged 60 and above (2.1%). The proportion of donations from middle-aged and older adults aged 30 and above was 45.3%, up 1.0 percentage point from 44.3% in 2020.

On the eve of Blood Donor Day, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Red Cross will hold a commemorative event at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on June 13 under the theme "The Real Heroes We Didn't Know, The Real Heroes We Will Meet." At the event, 32 individuals and 13 organizations will be awarded ministerial commendations.

Heo Myung, who began donating blood in 1982, will be recognized for having donated a total of 704 times over the past 42 years and for contributing to the spread of blood donation culture in the local community. Among the organizations receiving group commendations, the Ministry of National Defense established and implemented a "Military Blood Donation Activity Plan," leading to over 200,000 blood donations by military personnel each year and contributing to the stabilization of the national blood supply.