Germany calls for younger blood donors as World Blood Donor Day events highlight shortages

The University Medical Center Göttingen opened its laboratory and blood bank to the public on 13‑14 June for World Blood Donor Day, offering guided tours, free vegetarian and classic Wiener sausages, and Donauwelle cake. Visitors could view normally restricted areas and register for stem‑cell donation, though actual blood collection was not permitted that weekend.

Nationally, German blood services warn of a declining donor pool. In 2025, 3.18 million people donated blood, a modest 1 % rise, while first‑time donors fell to 283 054, down 2 % from the previous year. Daily demand remains around 15 000 units, with 19 % needed for cancer patients. The average donor age is now over 46, prompting campaigns that specifically target adults aged 18‑30 to sustain supplies amid an ageing population and increasing demand for blood components.