While over 100,000 people in the US wait for a lifesaving organ, the world of transplantation in 2023 was one of both staggering need and remarkable progress, as reflected in the record 46,000 transplants performed.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, approximately 25,500 kidney transplants were performed in the United States, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
- As of January 2024, there were over 90,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list in the US, with an average wait time of 3-5 years
- Living donor kidney transplants accounted for 21% of all kidney transplants in the US in 2023, totaling about 5,400 procedures
- In 2023, 9,200 liver transplants were performed in the United States, a record high with 10% increase from 2022
- As of 2024, over 10,000 patients await liver transplants in the US, with average wait of 1-2 years for adults
- Living donor liver transplants accounted for 4% of US liver transplants in 2023, mostly pediatric, totaling 350
- In 2023, 3,500 heart transplants were performed in the US, up 8% from prior year
- US heart transplant waiting list had 3,200 active candidates in 2024
- One-year survival post-heart transplant is 91% in US adults per 2022
- In 2023, 2,600 lung transplants occurred in the US, up 12% from 2022
- US lung waiting list: 1,100 active in 2024, median wait 3 months
- One-year survival post-lung transplant 85% for single lung in US 2022
- In 2023, total US organ transplants reached 46,000, highest ever
- US deceased donors: 21,000 in 2023, providing 73,000 organs
- Living donors: 6,000 in US 2023, mostly kidneys
Transplants increase yearly, yet lengthy waitlists persist as thousands need life-saving organs.
General Transplant Statistics
- In 2023, total US organ transplants reached 46,000, highest ever
- US deceased donors: 21,000 in 2023, providing 73,000 organs
- Living donors: 6,000 in US 2023, mostly kidneys
- National waiting list: 103,000 patients in US Jan 2024
- 17 people die daily waiting for transplant in US
- Global transplants: 156,000 in 2022 per GODT
- Donation rate US: 44 pmp deceased, highest historically
- Spanish model yields 48 pmp deceased donors, global benchmark
- OPO performance varies, top 10% recover 70 organs/DD vs. bottom 30
- HCV+ donors increased 50-fold since 2016, 5,000 transplants 2023
- Pediatric candidates: 2,000 on US list, 1,800 transplanted yearly
- Equity: Black patients 30% waitlist, 13% transplants
- Average organs per deceased donor: 3.5 in US 2023
- Transplant tourism: 10% of global kidneys from illicit sources
- Cost savings: transplant vs. dialysis $1.2M over 5 years
- Public opinion: 95% support donation in US polls
- Family consent overrides 40% registered donor wishes
- AI matching improved allocation efficiency by 15% in pilots
- Global disparity: high-income 80% of transplants despite 15% population
- COVID impact: 20% drop in transplants 2020, recovered by 2023
- Xenotransplants: 2 human trials in 2023, pig kidneys
- In 2023, 40,000 corneas transplanted in US
- Bone marrow transplants: 9,000 unrelated in US yearly via NMDP
- Stem cell tourism risks noted in 500 cases annually
General Transplant Statistics Interpretation
While we can celebrate record-breaking transplants and pioneering science, the fact that 17 people still die each day waiting—amidst such stark inequities and the maddening gap between near-universal public support and the tragic 40% family override rate—proves that our greatest challenge isn't just medical, but a profoundly human one of turning collective goodwill into a system that delivers for everyone.
Heart Transplants
- In 2023, 3,500 heart transplants were performed in the US, up 8% from prior year
- US heart transplant waiting list had 3,200 active candidates in 2024
- One-year survival post-heart transplant is 91% in US adults per 2022
- Pediatric heart transplants: 350 in US 2023, 90% one-year survival
- DCD hearts now 5% of US transplants using NRP, totaling 180 in 2023
- Global heart transplants: 6,000 in 2022 per ISHLT registry
- Median wait time for heart transplant in US is 2-3 months for Status 1-4
- Heart allocation policy change in 2018 increased Status 4 utilization by 50%
- Donor heart discard rate 25% in US due to ischemia time or function
- Five-year survival for heart transplants is 75% in US
- ECMO bridged 15% of heart recipients to transplant in 2023
- In Europe, 2,500 heart transplants annually, Germany leading with 500
- ABO incompatible pediatric heart transplants 10% of cases successfully
- Average ischemic time for hearts 3.5 hours in US 2022
- Women are 25% of heart recipients but 30% of donors
- Heart transplant cost averages $1.3 million first year in US
- Retransplant hearts rare, 1% rate within 5 years
- In Australia, 120 heart transplants in 2023
- Ex-vivo perfusion (OCS) hearts increased by 300% since approval
- Congenital heart disease 20% of pediatric transplants
- Global heart pmp rate 0.8 in 2022
- LVAD bridge to transplant 40% of adult recipients
- In UK, 200 heart transplants yearly
- Combined heart-kidney transplants 300 in US 2023
- Donor age >50 now 20% of hearts used
- Heart transplant halves mortality vs. LVAD alone at 2 years
Heart Transplants Interpretation
While the heart transplant waiting list tells a story of scarcity and hope, the rising success rates, clever new technologies, and the life-doubling power of a new heart together compose a cautiously optimistic symphony of modern medicine's progress against daunting odds.
Kidney Transplants
- In 2023, approximately 25,500 kidney transplants were performed in the United States, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
- As of January 2024, there were over 90,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list in the US, with an average wait time of 3-5 years
- Living donor kidney transplants accounted for 21% of all kidney transplants in the US in 2023, totaling about 5,400 procedures
- The one-year survival rate for kidney transplant recipients from deceased donors is 97% in the US as of 2022 data
- Pediatric kidney transplants numbered 176 in the US in 2023, with a 98% one-year graft survival rate
- In Europe, 22,000 kidney transplants were performed in 2022 according to the Global Observatory
- Preemptive kidney transplants, before dialysis, made up 12% of all kidney transplants in the US in 2023
- The discard rate for deceased donor kidneys was 20.5% in the US in 2023 due to various factors like biopsy results
- ABO-incompatible kidney transplants have increased to 2% of living donor transplants in recent years
- In 2023, 6,200 simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants were performed globally, with the US leading at 80%
- Five-year graft survival for living donor kidney transplants is 88% in the US
- Kidney paired donation exchanges facilitated 500 transplants in the US in 2023 via programs like NKR
- The median cold ischemia time for deceased donor kidneys was 19 hours in the US in 2022
- Black patients represent 29% of the US kidney waiting list but receive only 24% of transplants
- In India, over 10,000 kidney transplants occur annually, mostly from living donors
- Machine perfusion preservation for kidneys reduced delayed graft function by 50% in studies
- Elderly donors over 65 contributed 15% of deceased donor kidneys in the US in 2023
- The cost of a kidney transplant in the US averages $442,500 including first-year care
- Retransplantation rates for failed kidney grafts are 15% within 5 years
- In 2023, 1,200 kidney transplants from Hepatitis C positive donors were performed safely post-treatment
- Women comprise 40% of kidney donors but 60% of living recipients in the US
- The KDPI score threshold for kidney allocation increased utilization by 10%
- Global kidney transplant rate is 5.7 per million population as per WHO 2022
- In Australia, 1,100 kidney transplants were done in 2023 with 50% living donors
- Desensitization protocols enabled 300 highly sensitized patients to receive kidneys in 2023
- Kidney transplant reduces mortality risk by 60-80% compared to dialysis
- In Brazil, 4,000 kidney transplants annually with public funding covering 90%
- Dual kidney transplants from marginal donors numbered 400 in the US in 2023
- One-year patient survival for SPK transplants is 95%
- In 2023, 2,500 kidney transplants were performed in the UK
Kidney Transplants Interpretation
While we celebrate a record 25,500 transplants saving more lives than ever, the stubborn math of 90,000 patients waiting reminds us that for every two steps forward in medicine, the desperate line for a kidney grows by one.
Liver Transplants
- In 2023, 9,200 liver transplants were performed in the United States, a record high with 10% increase from 2022
- As of 2024, over 10,000 patients await liver transplants in the US, with average wait of 1-2 years for adults
- Living donor liver transplants accounted for 4% of US liver transplants in 2023, mostly pediatric, totaling 350
- One-year survival rate post-liver transplant is 89% for adults in the US per 2022 data
- Pediatric liver transplants numbered 550 in the US in 2023, with 92% one-year survival
- Globally, 35,000 liver transplants in 2022 per Global Observatory data
- Split liver transplants enabled 200 extra pediatric transplants in the US in 2023
- MELD score allocation system prioritizes 80% of liver transplants based on severity
- Deceased donor liver discard rate was 12% in the US in 2023 due to steatosis or logistics
- DCD liver transplants comprised 7% of US liver transplants in 2023
- Five-year survival for liver transplant recipients is 75% in the US
- In Europe, alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 30% of liver transplants
- Machine perfusion for livers increased utilization by 20%, reducing discard
- Hepatitis C positive donor livers used in 25% of US transplants in 2023 post-DAA therapy
- Average cold ischemia time for livers was 6.5 hours in the US in 2022
- Women donors provided 35% of liver grafts but recipients are 45% female
- Cost of liver transplant in US averages $878,000 for first year
- Retransplant rate for liver is 8% within 5 years due to recurrence or rejection
- In China, over 4,000 liver transplants annually, shifting to voluntary donors
- ALDLT (adult living donor liver transplant) survival is 78% at 5 years
- Pediatric split livers from adult donors numbered 150 in US 2023
- NASH now causes 30% of liver transplant waitlist additions in US
- Global liver transplant rate 6.2 pmp in 2022 per GODT
- In Canada, 600 liver transplants in 2023 with 5% living donors
- Normothermic machine perfusion approved, tripling marginal liver use
- HCC patients receive 25% of US liver transplants under exception points
- Liver transplant reduces 5-year mortality by 70% vs. cirrhosis
- In Japan, 1,800 liver transplants yearly, 40% living donors
- Dual lobe liver transplants rare, about 50 cases globally annually
Liver Transplants Interpretation
While we celebrate a record number of liver transplants saving lives, the sobering math reveals an innovation-fueled race against a growing waitlist where demand still tragically outpaces supply.
Lung Transplants
- In 2023, 2,600 lung transplants occurred in the US, up 12% from 2022
- US lung waiting list: 1,100 active in 2024, median wait 3 months
- One-year survival post-lung transplant 85% for single lung in US 2022
- Pediatric lungs: 50 transplants in US 2023, 88% survival
- Double lung transplants 65% of total US procedures in 2023
- Global lung transplants 5,500 in 2022 per ISHLT
- LAS allocation scores top 75 for 50% of lungs
- Lung discard rate 40% due to poor function or size mismatch
- EVLP preserved lungs added 20% more transplants in centers using it
- Five-year survival 55% for bilateral lung transplants
- IPF causes 40% of lung transplant indications in US
- DCD lungs 3% of US transplants in 2023
- Median ischemic time 5.5 hours for lungs in US
- Women 55% of lung recipients, 45% donors
- Lung transplant first-year cost $1.1 million in US
- Retransplant lungs 3% rate, mostly for BOS
- In Europe, 3,000 lung transplants yearly
- ECMO bridge used in 25% of lung recipients
- CF patients 30% of US lung transplants
- Global lung pmp 0.7 in 2022
- Heart-lung combined 40 in US 2023
- OCS lung system approved, boosting marginal donor use by 25%
- In Canada, 250 lung transplants in 2023
- PAH recipients have 70% one-year survival post-transplant
- Lung transplant improves quality of life, doubling 5-year survival vs. medical therapy
- In UK, 300 lung transplants annually
Lung Transplants Interpretation
While the remarkable 12% rise in US lung transplants offers a breath of hope for patients, the sobering reality is that the journey hinges on navigating a high-stakes calculus where only a handful of ideal donor lungs survive a 40% discard rate, median three-month waits, and million-dollar costs to achieve a chance at dramatically extended life.
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