GITNUXREPORT 2026

Organ Transplant Waiting List Statistics

Despite ongoing improvements, too many patients still die waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

As of 2023, 87,000 U.S. patients await kidney transplants.

Statistic 2

Liver waiting list: 10,600 active candidates in U.S. 2024.

Statistic 3

Heart: 3,200 on U.S. waiting list January 2024.

Statistic 4

Lung waiting list: 2,500 U.S. candidates active 2024.

Statistic 5

Pancreas alone: 700 on U.S. waitlist 2023.

Statistic 6

Intestine: 250 U.S. patients on waiting list 2023.

Statistic 7

Kidney-pancreas combined: 900 waiting in U.S. 2023.

Statistic 8

VCA (vascularized composite allografts): <50 on U.S. list.

Statistic 9

Kidney waitlist median time: 3.5 years nationally.

Statistic 10

Liver Status 1A: 100 patients, highest urgency 2023.

Statistic 11

Heart Status 1: 1,000 pediatric and adult in 2023.

Statistic 12

Lung allocation score average: 45 for waitlisted.

Statistic 13

Pancreas waitlist growth: 5% yearly 2020-2023.

Statistic 14

Eurotransplant kidney list: 9,000 patients 2023.

Statistic 15

UK kidney waiting list: 5,500 in 2023.

Statistic 16

Heart waiting list Canada: 200 patients 2023.

Statistic 17

Liver list Australia: 300 active 2023.

Statistic 18

Lung list Japan: 1,500 in 2023.

Statistic 19

Intestine waiting list U.S.: 90% pediatric.

Statistic 20

Kidney list by blood type O: 40% of total kidney waitlist.

Statistic 21

Liver MELD score >30: 2,000 patients on list.

Statistic 22

Heart ECMO bridged: 400 on urgent list 2023.

Statistic 23

Lung IPF patients: 30% of lung waitlist.

Statistic 24

Pancreas Type 1 diabetes: 80% of pancreas list.

Statistic 25

Multi-organ waitlist: 1,200 U.S. patients 2023.

Statistic 26

Kidney cold ischemia time limit impacts 20% of waitlist matches.

Statistic 27

Liver HCC exception: 15% of liver waitlist.

Statistic 28

Heart pediatric: 500 on list, 20% of heart total.

Statistic 29

As of January 10, 2024, there are 105,650 candidates on the active U.S. organ transplant waiting list.

Statistic 30

In 2023, 40,677 patients were added to the U.S. organ transplant waiting list.

Statistic 31

From 2013 to 2023, the U.S. waiting list grew by 15% despite increased transplants.

Statistic 32

17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S.

Statistic 33

The U.S. waiting list peaked at 123,790 in 2005 and has since declined 15%.

Statistic 34

In 2022, 42,887 new adult candidates were listed, up 4% from 2021.

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Pediatric candidates comprise 2% of the total U.S. waiting list (about 2,000).

Statistic 36

90% of U.S. waiting list patients need kidneys or livers.

Statistic 37

Active waiting list status held by 82,000 U.S. candidates as of mid-2023.

Statistic 38

In 2023, waiting list mortality rate was 5.9% for all organs combined.

Statistic 39

2023 saw 3,000 fewer inactive listings due to policy changes.

Statistic 40

U.S. waiting list removals for death or too sick: 6,000 in 2023.

Statistic 41

Median time on waitlist for all organs: 4.2 months as of 2023.

Statistic 42

75% of U.S. waiting list patients are over age 18.

Statistic 43

Global organ waiting lists exceed 150,000 annually, U.S. is 70%.

Statistic 44

Eurotransplant waiting list: 14,500 active patients in 2023.

Statistic 45

UK organ waiting list: 7,500 patients as of 2023.

Statistic 46

Canada: 3,200 on organ waiting list end of 2023.

Statistic 47

Australia: 1,800 active waiting list patients in 2023.

Statistic 48

India estimates 300,000 on kidney waiting lists unofficially.

Statistic 49

Brazil: 60,000 on waiting list, mostly kidneys, 2023 data.

Statistic 50

Japan: 15,000 on organ waiting list in 2023.

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U.S. inactive waiting list: 23,000 patients as of 2024.

Statistic 52

2023 U.S. waiting list transplants prevented 50,000 deaths.

Statistic 53

Waitlist growth rate: 2% annually from 2018-2023.

Statistic 54

95% of U.S. organs from deceased donors go to waitlisted patients.

Statistic 55

International transplant waiting lists total 500,000 globally est.

Statistic 56

U.S. waitlist diversity: 60% white, 30% minority.

Statistic 57

Pediatric waitlist removals: 300 in 2023.

Statistic 58

Adult waitlist new listings: 38,000 in 2023.

Statistic 59

41% of U.S. waitlist patients are age 50-64.

Statistic 60

Males comprise 62% of the U.S. organ waiting list.

Statistic 61

Black/African American: 29% of kidney waitlist.

Statistic 62

Hispanic/Latino: 18% of total U.S. waitlist 2023.

Statistic 63

Asian Americans: 6% of U.S. organ waitlist.

Statistic 64

Blood type O: 50% of U.S. kidney waiting list patients.

Statistic 65

Pediatric (<18): 1.9% of total waitlist, 2,000 patients.

Statistic 66

Age 18-34: 12% of waitlist, mostly kidneys.

Statistic 67

Age 65+: 15% of U.S. waitlist, rising trend.

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Female kidney waitlist: 38%, lower match rates.

Statistic 69

White patients: 55% of total waitlist.

Statistic 70

Native American: 1% of waitlist, higher mortality.

Statistic 71

BMI >30: 40% of waitlist candidates obese.

Statistic 72

Diabetes comorbidity: 45% of kidney waitlist.

Statistic 73

Hypertension: 60% of adult waitlist patients.

Statistic 74

Pediatric liver: 60% <1 year old on list.

Statistic 75

Heart waitlist males: 70% male dominance.

Statistic 76

Lung COPD patients: 25% female skew.

Statistic 77

Regional: Region 11 highest kidney list per capita.

Statistic 78

Urban vs rural: 80% urban on waitlist.

Statistic 79

Insurance: 60% Medicare on waitlist.

Statistic 80

Military veterans: 5% of kidney waitlist.

Statistic 81

Socioeconomic low SES: 25% higher waitlist mortality.

Statistic 82

Gender disparity in lung: 55% female.

Statistic 83

Race disparity kidney: Blacks wait 2x longer.

Statistic 84

Age median waitlist: 53 years old.

Statistic 85

U.S. Kidney allocation policy 2014: 25% pediatric priority.

Statistic 86

Acuity circles for liver: Reduced wait times 20% since 2020.

Statistic 87

Heart allocation system 2018: Status 6 eliminated, urgency up.

Statistic 88

Lung LAS system: 10% mortality drop since 2005.

Statistic 89

OPTN funding: $45M annually from HRSA.

Statistic 90

Deceased donor increase: 5% yearly 2019-2023.

Statistic 91

Living donor kidneys: 6,000 yearly U.S., policy encouraged.

Statistic 92

DCD donors: 20% of all deceased, policy expansion.

Statistic 93

Eurotransplant senior program: Elderly kidneys matched.

Statistic 94

UK presumed consent law 2020: 20% donor rise.

Statistic 95

U.S. NOTA 1984: Bans organ sales, impacts list.

Statistic 96

KAS 2014: 13% transplant rate increase kidneys.

Statistic 97

Pediatric priority: 4% of deceased donors to kids.

Statistic 98

HoPE policy lungs: HCV positive expanded.

Statistic 99

Funding disparity: Rural OPOs 30% less efficient.

Statistic 100

Waitlist inactivity rule 2023: 20,000 cleaned.

Statistic 101

Global trends: Asia donor rate <1 pmp vs 40 US.

Statistic 102

U.S. OPO performance metric: 2023 3.2 donors pmp.

Statistic 103

Voucher programs trials: 100 patients 2023.

Statistic 104

Machine perfusion trend: 30% kidneys 2023.

Statistic 105

Xenotransplant trials: 5 humans 2022-2023 policy shift.

Statistic 106

Equity policy 2023: Race-free eGFR kidneys.

Statistic 107

International exchange: Spain 50 donors pmp policy.

Statistic 108

U.S. trend: Waitlist deaths down 10% post-COVID.

Statistic 109

Kidney transplant rate: 25 per 100 waitlist-years.

Statistic 110

1-year kidney graft survival: 97% deceased donor.

Statistic 111

Liver pre-transplant mortality: 12% per year.

Statistic 112

Heart 5-year survival post-transplant: 75%.

Statistic 113

Lung transplant 1-year survival: 85% in 2023.

Statistic 114

Pancreas graft function at 1 year: 86%.

Statistic 115

2023 U.S. transplants: 46,000 total.

Statistic 116

Match run success: 70% for kidneys.

Statistic 117

Pediatric transplant rate: 50 per 100 wait-years.

Statistic 118

Rejection rate kidney year 1: 10-15%.

Statistic 119

Liver MELD 30+ transplant success: 90% 1-year.

Statistic 120

Heart LVAD bridge success: 60% to transplant.

Statistic 121

Lung double lung vs single: 88% vs 82% survival.

Statistic 122

Kidney living donor: 98% 1-year survival.

Statistic 123

Post-transplant mortality reduction: 80% vs dialysis.

Statistic 124

Re-transplant rate: 5% for kidneys.

Statistic 125

Cold ischemia >24h kidneys: 10% lower success.

Statistic 126

Pediatric heart 1-year: 95% survival.

Statistic 127

ABO incompatible transplants: 5% success rate improvement policy.

Statistic 128

DCD liver outcomes: 85% 1-year graft survival.

Statistic 129

Waitlist removal for transplant: 35% of listings.

Statistic 130

Graft failure rate pancreas: 14% at 1 year.

Statistic 131

HLA matching impact kidneys: 20% better long-term.

Statistic 132

ECMO lung bridge: 70% transplant success.

Statistic 133

10-year kidney survival: 50% deceased donor.

Statistic 134

Geographic disparity reduces outcomes by 15%.

Statistic 135

Kidney Paired Donation: 1,000 matches yearly.

Statistic 136

Liver allocation circle radius change: 10% outcome boost.

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Despite life-saving transplants reaching record highs, a sobering reality persists: over 100,000 Americans are currently trapped on the organ transplant waiting list, a number overshadowed by the tragic fact that 17 people die each day waiting for a match that may never come.

Key Takeaways

As of January 10, 2024, there are 105,650 candidates on the active U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
In 2023, 40,677 patients were added to the U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
From 2013 to 2023, the U.S. waiting list grew by 15% despite increased transplants.
As of 2023, 87,000 U.S. patients await kidney transplants.
Liver waiting list: 10,600 active candidates in U.S. 2024.
Heart: 3,200 on U.S. waiting list January 2024.
41% of U.S. waitlist patients are age 50-64.
Males comprise 62% of the U.S. organ waiting list.
Black/African American: 29% of kidney waitlist.
Kidney transplant rate: 25 per 100 waitlist-years.
1-year kidney graft survival: 97% deceased donor.
Liver pre-transplant mortality: 12% per year.
U.S. Kidney allocation policy 2014: 25% pediatric priority.
Acuity circles for liver: Reduced wait times 20% since 2020.
Heart allocation system 2018: Status 6 eliminated, urgency up.

Despite ongoing improvements, too many patients still die waiting for lifesaving organ transplants.

Organ-Specific Waiting Lists

As of 2023, 87,000 U.S. patients await kidney transplants.
Liver waiting list: 10,600 active candidates in U.S. 2024.
Heart: 3,200 on U.S. waiting list January 2024.
Lung waiting list: 2,500 U.S. candidates active 2024.
Pancreas alone: 700 on U.S. waitlist 2023.
Intestine: 250 U.S. patients on waiting list 2023.
Kidney-pancreas combined: 900 waiting in U.S. 2023.
VCA (vascularized composite allografts): <50 on U.S. list.
Kidney waitlist median time: 3.5 years nationally.
Liver Status 1A: 100 patients, highest urgency 2023.
Heart Status 1: 1,000 pediatric and adult in 2023.
Lung allocation score average: 45 for waitlisted.
Pancreas waitlist growth: 5% yearly 2020-2023.
Eurotransplant kidney list: 9,000 patients 2023.
UK kidney waiting list: 5,500 in 2023.
Heart waiting list Canada: 200 patients 2023.
Liver list Australia: 300 active 2023.
Lung list Japan: 1,500 in 2023.
Intestine waiting list U.S.: 90% pediatric.
Kidney list by blood type O: 40% of total kidney waitlist.
Liver MELD score >30: 2,000 patients on list.
Heart ECMO bridged: 400 on urgent list 2023.
Lung IPF patients: 30% of lung waitlist.
Pancreas Type 1 diabetes: 80% of pancreas list.
Multi-organ waitlist: 1,200 U.S. patients 2023.
Kidney cold ischemia time limit impacts 20% of waitlist matches.
Liver HCC exception: 15% of liver waitlist.
Heart pediatric: 500 on list, 20% of heart total.

Organ-Specific Waiting Lists Interpretation

Despite the grim arithmetic of life—where thousands queue like spare parts in a silent, bureaucratic limbo—each number represents a person waiting on a thread of hope that someone else's end must become their beginning.

Overall Waiting List Statistics

As of January 10, 2024, there are 105,650 candidates on the active U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
In 2023, 40,677 patients were added to the U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
From 2013 to 2023, the U.S. waiting list grew by 15% despite increased transplants.
17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S.
The U.S. waiting list peaked at 123,790 in 2005 and has since declined 15%.
In 2022, 42,887 new adult candidates were listed, up 4% from 2021.
Pediatric candidates comprise 2% of the total U.S. waiting list (about 2,000).
90% of U.S. waiting list patients need kidneys or livers.
Active waiting list status held by 82,000 U.S. candidates as of mid-2023.
In 2023, waiting list mortality rate was 5.9% for all organs combined.
2023 saw 3,000 fewer inactive listings due to policy changes.
U.S. waiting list removals for death or too sick: 6,000 in 2023.
Median time on waitlist for all organs: 4.2 months as of 2023.
75% of U.S. waiting list patients are over age 18.
Global organ waiting lists exceed 150,000 annually, U.S. is 70%.
Eurotransplant waiting list: 14,500 active patients in 2023.
UK organ waiting list: 7,500 patients as of 2023.
Canada: 3,200 on organ waiting list end of 2023.
Australia: 1,800 active waiting list patients in 2023.
India estimates 300,000 on kidney waiting lists unofficially.
Brazil: 60,000 on waiting list, mostly kidneys, 2023 data.
Japan: 15,000 on organ waiting list in 2023.
U.S. inactive waiting list: 23,000 patients as of 2024.
2023 U.S. waiting list transplants prevented 50,000 deaths.
Waitlist growth rate: 2% annually from 2018-2023.
95% of U.S. organs from deceased donors go to waitlisted patients.
International transplant waiting lists total 500,000 globally est.
U.S. waitlist diversity: 60% white, 30% minority.
Pediatric waitlist removals: 300 in 2023.
Adult waitlist new listings: 38,000 in 2023.

Overall Waiting List Statistics Interpretation

While nearly 1,700 Americans were added to transplant waiting lists each week in 2023, the tragic, daily math of 17 lives lost serves as a sobering reminder that even a system improving its efficiency is still racing against a relentless biological clock.

Patient Demographics

41% of U.S. waitlist patients are age 50-64.
Males comprise 62% of the U.S. organ waiting list.
Black/African American: 29% of kidney waitlist.
Hispanic/Latino: 18% of total U.S. waitlist 2023.
Asian Americans: 6% of U.S. organ waitlist.
Blood type O: 50% of U.S. kidney waiting list patients.
Pediatric (<18): 1.9% of total waitlist, 2,000 patients.
Age 18-34: 12% of waitlist, mostly kidneys.
Age 65+: 15% of U.S. waitlist, rising trend.
Female kidney waitlist: 38%, lower match rates.
White patients: 55% of total waitlist.
Native American: 1% of waitlist, higher mortality.
BMI >30: 40% of waitlist candidates obese.
Diabetes comorbidity: 45% of kidney waitlist.
Hypertension: 60% of adult waitlist patients.
Pediatric liver: 60% <1 year old on list.
Heart waitlist males: 70% male dominance.
Lung COPD patients: 25% female skew.
Regional: Region 11 highest kidney list per capita.
Urban vs rural: 80% urban on waitlist.
Insurance: 60% Medicare on waitlist.
Military veterans: 5% of kidney waitlist.
Socioeconomic low SES: 25% higher waitlist mortality.
Gender disparity in lung: 55% female.
Race disparity kidney: Blacks wait 2x longer.
Age median waitlist: 53 years old.

Patient Demographics Interpretation

This isn't just a list of numbers; it's a stark demographic portrait where the grim reaper has a clear preference for middle-aged, male, type-O blooded, hypertensive urbanites waiting for a kidney, while systemic biases ensure Black patients wait twice as long and the poor face higher odds of dying before their name is called.

Policy, Funding, and Trends

U.S. Kidney allocation policy 2014: 25% pediatric priority.
Acuity circles for liver: Reduced wait times 20% since 2020.
Heart allocation system 2018: Status 6 eliminated, urgency up.
Lung LAS system: 10% mortality drop since 2005.
OPTN funding: $45M annually from HRSA.
Deceased donor increase: 5% yearly 2019-2023.
Living donor kidneys: 6,000 yearly U.S., policy encouraged.
DCD donors: 20% of all deceased, policy expansion.
Eurotransplant senior program: Elderly kidneys matched.
UK presumed consent law 2020: 20% donor rise.
U.S. NOTA 1984: Bans organ sales, impacts list.
KAS 2014: 13% transplant rate increase kidneys.
Pediatric priority: 4% of deceased donors to kids.
HoPE policy lungs: HCV positive expanded.
Funding disparity: Rural OPOs 30% less efficient.
Waitlist inactivity rule 2023: 20,000 cleaned.
Global trends: Asia donor rate <1 pmp vs 40 US.
U.S. OPO performance metric: 2023 3.2 donors pmp.
Voucher programs trials: 100 patients 2023.
Machine perfusion trend: 30% kidneys 2023.
Xenotransplant trials: 5 humans 2022-2023 policy shift.
Equity policy 2023: Race-free eGFR kidneys.
International exchange: Spain 50 donors pmp policy.
U.S. trend: Waitlist deaths down 10% post-COVID.

Policy, Funding, and Trends Interpretation

From pediatric priority to race-free algorithms, these policies stitch together a patchwork of progress, but each life-saving tweak reveals the next glaring thread of inequity we must urgently mend.

Transplant Success and Outcomes

Kidney transplant rate: 25 per 100 waitlist-years.
1-year kidney graft survival: 97% deceased donor.
Liver pre-transplant mortality: 12% per year.
Heart 5-year survival post-transplant: 75%.
Lung transplant 1-year survival: 85% in 2023.
Pancreas graft function at 1 year: 86%.
2023 U.S. transplants: 46,000 total.
Match run success: 70% for kidneys.
Pediatric transplant rate: 50 per 100 wait-years.
Rejection rate kidney year 1: 10-15%.
Liver MELD 30+ transplant success: 90% 1-year.
Heart LVAD bridge success: 60% to transplant.
Lung double lung vs single: 88% vs 82% survival.
Kidney living donor: 98% 1-year survival.
Post-transplant mortality reduction: 80% vs dialysis.
Re-transplant rate: 5% for kidneys.
Cold ischemia >24h kidneys: 10% lower success.
Pediatric heart 1-year: 95% survival.
ABO incompatible transplants: 5% success rate improvement policy.
DCD liver outcomes: 85% 1-year graft survival.
Waitlist removal for transplant: 35% of listings.
Graft failure rate pancreas: 14% at 1 year.
HLA matching impact kidneys: 20% better long-term.
ECMO lung bridge: 70% transplant success.
10-year kidney survival: 50% deceased donor.
Geographic disparity reduces outcomes by 15%.
Kidney Paired Donation: 1,000 matches yearly.
Liver allocation circle radius change: 10% outcome boost.

Transplant Success and Outcomes Interpretation

The modern transplant system is a masterpiece of medical engineering, achieving remarkable 97% one-year success rates for some organs, yet it remains tragically human—a delicate dance of waiting lists, geography, and chance where your odds of survival can shift by 15% depending on your zip code.

Sources & References

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