World Blood Donor Day

What Is World Blood Donor Day?

June 14 marks "World Blood Donor Day," first held in 2004 by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, and the World Health Organization (WHO), and formally designated as an annual observance by the World Health Assembly in 2005. The date was chosen to mark the birthday (June 14, 1868) of Karl Landsteiner, the Austrian medical scientist who discovered blood groups.

The Importance of Blood Donation

Blood cannot be manufactured artificially, and blood transfusions are essential in countless medical situations, including surgery, accidents, cancer treatment, and leukemia. According to the Japanese Red Cross, declining birth rates and an aging population have increased the number of elderly patients who mainly need transfusions while the younger population shrinks: donors in their teens to thirties fell from about 2.04 million in 2015 to about 1.56 million in 2025. This decline among younger people is seen as a challenge, making this day an important opportunity to raise awareness about blood donation.

Consider Donating Blood

Healthy people who meet the criteria can donate from age 16 (for 200 mL whole blood donation); each type of donation has its own age and weight requirements. There are different types of donation, including whole blood and component donation. The blood draw itself takes about 5 to 15 minutes for whole blood and about 30 to 90 minutes for component donation, plus time for registration, a health interview, and rest afterward. You can easily take part at a Japanese Red Cross donation center or blood donation bus. Your blood could one day help save someone's life.