In 2022, there were 42,889 organ transplants in the United States. This was the highest number ever, with the second highest number of transplants reported in 2021. In the United States, the most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Who donates organs in the United States?
In 2022, there were almost 21,400 organ donors in the United States. Men accounted for around 54 percent of organ donors that year. Some organs, such as a kidney, can be donated while the donor is alive, but most donations occur after the donor has deceased. For this reason, it is no surprise that most organ donors in the United States are older adults. In 2022, the highest number of organ donors were in the age group 50-64 years. Although the number of organ donors in the U.S. has increased gradually over the past few decades, those requiring an organ transplantation still far outnumber donors, with thousands currently on waiting lists to receive an organ transplantation that may save their life.
Waiting lists for transplants
In the United States, there were around 103,650 candidates waiting for an organ transplantation as of November 2023. Around 86 percent of these candidates were waiting for a kidney transplantation, while 10 percent needed a liver transplant. Older adults are more likely to need an organ transplant than younger people, with those aged 50 to 64 years accounting for the highest number of candidates on organ donation waiting lists. The organ with the longest average waiting time in the United States is the kidney. As of 2017, a candidate in the U.S. that required a kidney transplant could expect to wait around 685 days. In comparison, those requiring a heart transplant could expect a wait of 213 days.
