Probability of Needing an Organ Transplant

As of 2024, over 103,000 Americans are on the organ transplant waiting list, with kidneys being the most needed organ (about 85% of the list). Approximately 46,000 organ transplants were performed in 2023, a record number but still far short of demand. About 17 people die each day while waiting for an organ.

The most commonly transplanted organs are kidneys (about 27,000 per year), livers (about 10,000), hearts (about 4,100), lungs (about 2,700), and pancreas (about 900). The median wait time varies dramatically by organ: kidneys (3-5 years), livers (about 1 year), hearts (about 6 months), and lungs (about 3 months). Wait times also vary significantly by blood type, geographic region, and medical urgency.

Organ donation rates have improved with the adoption of donation after circulatory death protocols, expanded criteria donors, and split-liver transplants. A single organ donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance up to 75 lives through tissue donation. About 58% of American adults are registered organ donors. Recent advances include xenotransplantation (pig organs genetically modified for human use), with the first pig kidney and heart transplants performed in 2022-2023, potentially offering a future solution to the organ shortage.