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
1In 2023, total US organ transplants reached 46,000, highest ever
Verified2US deceased donors: 21,000 in 2023, providing 73,000 organs
Verified3Living donors: 6,000 in US 2023, mostly kidneys
Verified4National waiting list: 103,000 patients in US Jan 2024
Directional517 people die daily waiting for transplant in US
Single source6Global transplants: 156,000 in 2022 per GODT
Verified7Donation rate US: 44 pmp deceased, highest historically
Verified8Spanish model yields 48 pmp deceased donors, global benchmark
Verified9OPO performance varies, top 10% recover 70 organs/DD vs. bottom 30
Directional10HCV+ donors increased 50-fold since 2016, 5,000 transplants 2023
Single source11Pediatric candidates: 2,000 on US list, 1,800 transplanted yearly
Verified12Equity: Black patients 30% waitlist, 13% transplants
Verified13Average organs per deceased donor: 3.5 in US 2023
Verified14Transplant tourism: 10% of global kidneys from illicit sources
Directional15Cost savings: transplant vs. dialysis $1.2M over 5 years
Single source16Public opinion: 95% support donation in US polls
Verified17Family consent overrides 40% registered donor wishes
Verified18AI matching improved allocation efficiency by 15% in pilots
Verified19Global disparity: high-income 80% of transplants despite 15% population
Directional20COVID impact: 20% drop in transplants 2020, recovered by 2023
Single source21Xenotransplants: 2 human trials in 2023, pig kidneys
Verified22In 2023, 40,000 corneas transplanted in US
Verified23Bone marrow transplants: 9,000 unrelated in US yearly via NMDP
Verified24Stem cell tourism risks noted in 500 cases annually
DirectionalGeneral 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
1In 2023, 3,500 heart transplants were performed in the US, up 8% from prior year
Verified2US heart transplant waiting list had 3,200 active candidates in 2024
Verified3One-year survival post-heart transplant is 91% in US adults per 2022
Verified4Pediatric heart transplants: 350 in US 2023, 90% one-year survival
Directional5DCD hearts now 5% of US transplants using NRP, totaling 180 in 2023
Single source6Global heart transplants: 6,000 in 2022 per ISHLT registry
Verified7Median wait time for heart transplant in US is 2-3 months for Status 1-4
Verified8Heart allocation policy change in 2018 increased Status 4 utilization by 50%
Verified9Donor heart discard rate 25% in US due to ischemia time or function
Directional10Five-year survival for heart transplants is 75% in US
Single source11ECMO bridged 15% of heart recipients to transplant in 2023
Verified12In Europe, 2,500 heart transplants annually, Germany leading with 500
Verified13ABO incompatible pediatric heart transplants 10% of cases successfully
Verified14Average ischemic time for hearts 3.5 hours in US 2022
Directional15Women are 25% of heart recipients but 30% of donors
Single source16Heart transplant cost averages $1.3 million first year in US
Verified17Retransplant hearts rare, 1% rate within 5 years
Verified18In Australia, 120 heart transplants in 2023
Verified19Ex-vivo perfusion (OCS) hearts increased by 300% since approval
Directional20Congenital heart disease 20% of pediatric transplants
Single source21Global heart pmp rate 0.8 in 2022
Verified22LVAD bridge to transplant 40% of adult recipients
Verified23In UK, 200 heart transplants yearly
Verified24Combined heart-kidney transplants 300 in US 2023
Directional25Donor age >50 now 20% of hearts used
Single source26Heart transplant halves mortality vs. LVAD alone at 2 years
VerifiedHeart 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
1In 2023, approximately 25,500 kidney transplants were performed in the United States, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year
Verified2As 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
Verified3Living donor kidney transplants accounted for 21% of all kidney transplants in the US in 2023, totaling about 5,400 procedures
Verified4The one-year survival rate for kidney transplant recipients from deceased donors is 97% in the US as of 2022 data
Directional5Pediatric kidney transplants numbered 176 in the US in 2023, with a 98% one-year graft survival rate
Single source6In Europe, 22,000 kidney transplants were performed in 2022 according to the Global Observatory
Verified7Preemptive kidney transplants, before dialysis, made up 12% of all kidney transplants in the US in 2023
Verified8The discard rate for deceased donor kidneys was 20.5% in the US in 2023 due to various factors like biopsy results
Verified9ABO-incompatible kidney transplants have increased to 2% of living donor transplants in recent years
Directional10In 2023, 6,200 simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants were performed globally, with the US leading at 80%
Single source11Five-year graft survival for living donor kidney transplants is 88% in the US
Verified12Kidney paired donation exchanges facilitated 500 transplants in the US in 2023 via programs like NKR
Verified13The median cold ischemia time for deceased donor kidneys was 19 hours in the US in 2022
Verified14Black patients represent 29% of the US kidney waiting list but receive only 24% of transplants
Directional15In India, over 10,000 kidney transplants occur annually, mostly from living donors
Single source16Machine perfusion preservation for kidneys reduced delayed graft function by 50% in studies
Verified17Elderly donors over 65 contributed 15% of deceased donor kidneys in the US in 2023
Verified18The cost of a kidney transplant in the US averages $442,500 including first-year care
Verified19Retransplantation rates for failed kidney grafts are 15% within 5 years
Directional20In 2023, 1,200 kidney transplants from Hepatitis C positive donors were performed safely post-treatment
Single source21Women comprise 40% of kidney donors but 60% of living recipients in the US
Verified22The KDPI score threshold for kidney allocation increased utilization by 10%
Verified23Global kidney transplant rate is 5.7 per million population as per WHO 2022
Verified24In Australia, 1,100 kidney transplants were done in 2023 with 50% living donors
Directional25Desensitization protocols enabled 300 highly sensitized patients to receive kidneys in 2023
Single source26Kidney transplant reduces mortality risk by 60-80% compared to dialysis
Verified27In Brazil, 4,000 kidney transplants annually with public funding covering 90%
Verified28Dual kidney transplants from marginal donors numbered 400 in the US in 2023
Verified29One-year patient survival for SPK transplants is 95%
Directional30In 2023, 2,500 kidney transplants were performed in the UK
Single sourceKidney 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
1In 2023, 9,200 liver transplants were performed in the United States, a record high with 10% increase from 2022
Verified2As of 2024, over 10,000 patients await liver transplants in the US, with average wait of 1-2 years for adults
Verified3Living donor liver transplants accounted for 4% of US liver transplants in 2023, mostly pediatric, totaling 350
Verified4One-year survival rate post-liver transplant is 89% for adults in the US per 2022 data
Directional5Pediatric liver transplants numbered 550 in the US in 2023, with 92% one-year survival
Single source6Globally, 35,000 liver transplants in 2022 per Global Observatory data
Verified7Split liver transplants enabled 200 extra pediatric transplants in the US in 2023
Verified8MELD score allocation system prioritizes 80% of liver transplants based on severity
Verified9Deceased donor liver discard rate was 12% in the US in 2023 due to steatosis or logistics
Directional10DCD liver transplants comprised 7% of US liver transplants in 2023
Single source11Five-year survival for liver transplant recipients is 75% in the US
Verified12In Europe, alcohol-related liver disease accounts for 30% of liver transplants
Verified13Machine perfusion for livers increased utilization by 20%, reducing discard
Verified14Hepatitis C positive donor livers used in 25% of US transplants in 2023 post-DAA therapy
Directional15Average cold ischemia time for livers was 6.5 hours in the US in 2022
Single source16Women donors provided 35% of liver grafts but recipients are 45% female
Verified17Cost of liver transplant in US averages $878,000 for first year
Verified18Retransplant rate for liver is 8% within 5 years due to recurrence or rejection
Verified19In China, over 4,000 liver transplants annually, shifting to voluntary donors
Directional20ALDLT (adult living donor liver transplant) survival is 78% at 5 years
Single source21Pediatric split livers from adult donors numbered 150 in US 2023
Verified22NASH now causes 30% of liver transplant waitlist additions in US
Verified23Global liver transplant rate 6.2 pmp in 2022 per GODT
Verified24In Canada, 600 liver transplants in 2023 with 5% living donors
Directional25Normothermic machine perfusion approved, tripling marginal liver use
Single source26HCC patients receive 25% of US liver transplants under exception points
Verified27Liver transplant reduces 5-year mortality by 70% vs. cirrhosis
Verified28In Japan, 1,800 liver transplants yearly, 40% living donors
Verified29Dual lobe liver transplants rare, about 50 cases globally annually
DirectionalLiver 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
1In 2023, 2,600 lung transplants occurred in the US, up 12% from 2022
Verified2US lung waiting list: 1,100 active in 2024, median wait 3 months
Verified3One-year survival post-lung transplant 85% for single lung in US 2022
Verified4Pediatric lungs: 50 transplants in US 2023, 88% survival
Directional5Double lung transplants 65% of total US procedures in 2023
Single source6Global lung transplants 5,500 in 2022 per ISHLT
Verified7LAS allocation scores top 75 for 50% of lungs
Verified8Lung discard rate 40% due to poor function or size mismatch
Verified9EVLP preserved lungs added 20% more transplants in centers using it
Directional10Five-year survival 55% for bilateral lung transplants
Single source11IPF causes 40% of lung transplant indications in US
Verified12DCD lungs 3% of US transplants in 2023
Verified13Median ischemic time 5.5 hours for lungs in US
Verified14Women 55% of lung recipients, 45% donors
Directional15Lung transplant first-year cost $1.1 million in US
Single source16Retransplant lungs 3% rate, mostly for BOS
Verified17In Europe, 3,000 lung transplants yearly
Verified18ECMO bridge used in 25% of lung recipients
Verified19CF patients 30% of US lung transplants
Directional20Global lung pmp 0.7 in 2022
Single source21Heart-lung combined 40 in US 2023
Verified22OCS lung system approved, boosting marginal donor use by 25%
Verified23In Canada, 250 lung transplants in 2023
Verified24PAH recipients have 70% one-year survival post-transplant
Directional25Lung transplant improves quality of life, doubling 5-year survival vs. medical therapy
Single source26In UK, 300 lung transplants annually
VerifiedLung 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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