As of January 10, 2024, the active U.S. organ transplant waiting list includes 105,650 candidates, yet the numbers look uneven across organs and urgency levels. A median kidney wait of 3.5 years nationally sits beside 100 people on liver status 1A and 1,000 hearts on status 1, underscoring how quickly “waiting” can mean something very different depending on need. Below, the dataset connects growth patterns, blood type and MELD thresholds, and regional disparities that help explain why people move from list to transplant at such contrasting rates.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Kidney transplant rate: 25 per 100 waitlist-years.
- 1-year kidney graft survival: 97% deceased donor.
- Liver pre-transplant mortality: 12% per year.
In the US, about 105,650 people wait for organ transplants, with kidney need driving the longest median 3.5 year waits.
Related reading
01 · Category
Organ-Specific Waiting Lists28 stats
01
As of 2023, 87,000 U.S. patients await kidney transplants.
02
Liver waiting list: 10,600 active candidates in U.S. 2024.
03
Heart: 3,200 on U.S. waiting list January 2024.
04
Lung waiting list: 2,500 U.S. candidates active 2024.
05
Pancreas alone: 700 on U.S. waitlist 2023.
06
Intestine: 250 U.S. patients on waiting list 2023.
07
Kidney-pancreas combined: 900 waiting in U.S. 2023.
08
VCA (vascularized composite allografts): <50 on U.S. list.
09
Kidney waitlist median time: 3.5 years nationally.
10
Liver Status 1A: 100 patients, highest urgency 2023.
11
Heart Status 1: 1,000 pediatric and adult in 2023.
12
Lung allocation score average: 45 for waitlisted.
13
Pancreas waitlist growth: 5% yearly 2020-2023.
14
Eurotransplant kidney list: 9,000 patients 2023.
15
UK kidney waiting list: 5,500 in 2023.
16
Heart waiting list Canada: 200 patients 2023.
17
Liver list Australia: 300 active 2023.
18
Lung list Japan: 1,500 in 2023.
19
Intestine waiting list U.S.: 90% pediatric.
20
Kidney list by blood type O: 40% of total kidney waitlist.
21
Liver MELD score >30: 2,000 patients on list.
22
Heart ECMO bridged: 400 on urgent list 2023.
23
Lung IPF patients: 30% of lung waitlist.
24
Pancreas Type 1 diabetes: 80% of pancreas list.
25
Multi-organ waitlist: 1,200 U.S. patients 2023.
26
Kidney cold ischemia time limit impacts 20% of waitlist matches.
27
Liver HCC exception: 15% of liver waitlist.
28
Heart pediatric: 500 on list, 20% of heart total.
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Overall Waiting List Statistics30 stats
01
As of January 10, 2024, there are 105,650 candidates on the active U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
02
In 2023, 40,677 patients were added to the U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
03
From 2013 to 2023, the U.S. waiting list grew by 15% despite increased transplants.
04
17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S.
05
The U.S. waiting list peaked at 123,790 in 2005 and has since declined 15%.
06
In 2022, 42,887 new adult candidates were listed, up 4% from 2021.
07
Pediatric candidates comprise 2% of the total U.S. waiting list (about 2,000).
08
90% of U.S. waiting list patients need kidneys or livers.
09
Active waiting list status held by 82,000 U.S. candidates as of mid-2023.
10
In 2023, waiting list mortality rate was 5.9% for all organs combined.
11
2023 saw 3,000 fewer inactive listings due to policy changes.
12
U.S. waiting list removals for death or too sick: 6,000 in 2023.
13
Median time on waitlist for all organs: 4.2 months as of 2023.
14
75% of U.S. waiting list patients are over age 18.
15
Global organ waiting lists exceed 150,000 annually, U.S. is 70%.
16
Eurotransplant waiting list: 14,500 active patients in 2023.
17
UK organ waiting list: 7,500 patients as of 2023.
18
Canada: 3,200 on organ waiting list end of 2023.
19
Australia: 1,800 active waiting list patients in 2023.
20
India estimates 300,000 on kidney waiting lists unofficially.
21
Brazil: 60,000 on waiting list, mostly kidneys, 2023 data.
22
Japan: 15,000 on organ waiting list in 2023.
23
U.S. inactive waiting list: 23,000 patients as of 2024.
24
2023 U.S. waiting list transplants prevented 50,000 deaths.
25
Waitlist growth rate: 2% annually from 2018-2023.
26
95% of U.S. organs from deceased donors go to waitlisted patients.
27
International transplant waiting lists total 500,000 globally est.
28
U.S. waitlist diversity: 60% white, 30% minority.
29
Pediatric waitlist removals: 300 in 2023.
30
Adult waitlist new listings: 38,000 in 2023.
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Patient Demographics26 stats
01
41% of U.S. waitlist patients are age 50-64.
02
Males comprise 62% of the U.S. organ waiting list.
03
Black/African American: 29% of kidney waitlist.
04
Hispanic/Latino: 18% of total U.S. waitlist 2023.
05
Asian Americans: 6% of U.S. organ waitlist.
06
Blood type O: 50% of U.S. kidney waiting list patients.
07
Pediatric (<18): 1.9% of total waitlist, 2,000 patients.
08
Age 18-34: 12% of waitlist, mostly kidneys.
09
Age 65+: 15% of U.S. waitlist, rising trend.
10
Female kidney waitlist: 38%, lower match rates.
11
White patients: 55% of total waitlist.
12
Native American: 1% of waitlist, higher mortality.
13
BMI >30: 40% of waitlist candidates obese.
14
Diabetes comorbidity: 45% of kidney waitlist.
15
Hypertension: 60% of adult waitlist patients.
16
Pediatric liver: 60% <1 year old on list.
17
Heart waitlist males: 70% male dominance.
18
Lung COPD patients: 25% female skew.
19
Regional: Region 11 highest kidney list per capita.
20
Urban vs rural: 80% urban on waitlist.
21
Insurance: 60% Medicare on waitlist.
22
Military veterans: 5% of kidney waitlist.
23
Socioeconomic low SES: 25% higher waitlist mortality.
24
Gender disparity in lung: 55% female.
25
Race disparity kidney: Blacks wait 2x longer.
26
Age median waitlist: 53 years old.
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy, Funding, and Trends24 stats
01
U.S. Kidney allocation policy 2014: 25% pediatric priority.
02
Acuity circles for liver: Reduced wait times 20% since 2020.
03
Heart allocation system 2018: Status 6 eliminated, urgency up.
04
Lung LAS system: 10% mortality drop since 2005.
05
OPTN funding: $45M annually from HRSA.
06
Deceased donor increase: 5% yearly 2019-2023.
07
Living donor kidneys: 6,000 yearly U.S., policy encouraged.
08
DCD donors: 20% of all deceased, policy expansion.
09
Eurotransplant senior program: Elderly kidneys matched.
10
UK presumed consent law 2020: 20% donor rise.
11
U.S. NOTA 1984: Bans organ sales, impacts list.
12
KAS 2014: 13% transplant rate increase kidneys.
13
Pediatric priority: 4% of deceased donors to kids.
14
HoPE policy lungs: HCV positive expanded.
15
Funding disparity: Rural OPOs 30% less efficient.
16
Waitlist inactivity rule 2023: 20,000 cleaned.
17
Global trends: Asia donor rate <1 pmp vs 40 US.
18
U.S. OPO performance metric: 2023 3.2 donors pmp.
19
Voucher programs trials: 100 patients 2023.
20
Machine perfusion trend: 30% kidneys 2023.
21
Xenotransplant trials: 5 humans 2022-2023 policy shift.
22
Equity policy 2023: Race-free eGFR kidneys.
23
International exchange: Spain 50 donors pmp policy.
24
U.S. trend: Waitlist deaths down 10% post-COVID.
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Transplant Success and Outcomes28 stats
01
Kidney transplant rate: 25 per 100 waitlist-years.
02
1-year kidney graft survival: 97% deceased donor.
03
Liver pre-transplant mortality: 12% per year.
04
Heart 5-year survival post-transplant: 75%.
05
Lung transplant 1-year survival: 85% in 2023.
06
Pancreas graft function at 1 year: 86%.
07
2023 U.S. transplants: 46,000 total.
08
Match run success: 70% for kidneys.
09
Pediatric transplant rate: 50 per 100 wait-years.
10
Rejection rate kidney year 1: 10-15%.
11
Liver MELD 30+ transplant success: 90% 1-year.
12
Heart LVAD bridge success: 60% to transplant.
13
Lung double lung vs single: 88% vs 82% survival.
14
Kidney living donor: 98% 1-year survival.
15
Post-transplant mortality reduction: 80% vs dialysis.
16
Re-transplant rate: 5% for kidneys.
17
Cold ischemia >24h kidneys: 10% lower success.
18
Pediatric heart 1-year: 95% survival.
19
ABO incompatible transplants: 5% success rate improvement policy.
20
DCD liver outcomes: 85% 1-year graft survival.
21
Waitlist removal for transplant: 35% of listings.
22
Graft failure rate pancreas: 14% at 1 year.
23
HLA matching impact kidneys: 20% better long-term.
24
ECMO lung bridge: 70% transplant success.
25
10-year kidney survival: 50% deceased donor.
26
Geographic disparity reduces outcomes by 15%.
27
Kidney Paired Donation: 1,000 matches yearly.
28
Liver allocation circle radius change: 10% outcome boost.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Karl Becker. (2026, February 13). Organ Transplant Waiting List Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/organ-transplant-waiting-list-statistics
MLA
Karl Becker. "Organ Transplant Waiting List Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/organ-transplant-waiting-list-statistics.
Chicago
Karl Becker. 2026. "Organ Transplant Waiting List Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/organ-transplant-waiting-list-statistics.
Sources & references
19 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level