Red Cross warns of shrinking donor pool – appeal to younger people ahead of World Blood Donor Day

Figures: Demand high, donor pool shrinking

According to figures from the Red Cross, around 3.18 million people in Germany donated blood through DRK services in 2025, a slight increase of one percent compared to the previous year. For comparison: in 2011, there were still around five million donors. Meanwhile, demand is high: according to the DRK, around 15,000 units of blood are needed every day in Germany.

„Wenn wir es schaffen, den Kader zu erweitern, können wir den Ausfall besser abfedern“, Nohe stressed. The Red Cross therefore called on the population to donate blood specifically at the start of summer, holidays and the travel season. In the warm months, supply bottlenecks are threatening, as heat, the start of vacations and travel traffic dampen people's willingness to donate. The winter flu season also regularly poses challenges for supply.

According to a survey commissioned by HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung, 60 percent of those polled worry that demographic change could exacerbate the risk of a shortage of blood supplies. The DRK also sees cause for concern and wants to appeal above all to younger people. „Jetzt wäre eine perfekte Gelegenheit, eine Karriere als Blutspender zu starten“, said Nohe.

Blood donation procedure and health check

The Red Cross also emphasizes that it is never too late to start: even for people in their thirties or forties, beginning as a blood donor is easily possible. Before every donation, blood pressure, body temperature and the number of red blood cells are checked, so that only healthy people are admitted to donate.

During a blood donation, around half a liter of blood is taken from the body – an amount that, according to the DRK, the organism quickly replaces. The donated blood is carefully examined in the laboratory with every donation; liver and kidney values are determined, among other things. Donors thus receive a free mini health check-up.

Summer, holidays and flu wave as additional risks

World Blood Donor Day fell on a Sunday this year. It is intended to raise awareness worldwide of the importance of voluntary, unpaid blood donation. The German Red Cross used the occasion to point out emphatically the staff shortages in its own donor database.

Nohe also referred to the looming loss of blood caused by the aging core donor base: as the baby boomer generation gradually drops out, this shortfall would have to be offset by new, above all younger, donors. Otherwise, ensuring the supply of blood products will become increasingly difficult in the coming years.

Appeal to younger people and late bloomers

The DRK therefore appealed to all donors who are not yet active to make an appointment at one of the many blood donation events in the coming weeks – especially during the travel and holiday season, when, experience shows, fewer people go to donate.