In 2023, Spain had the highest rate of deceased organ donors among select OECD countries with ** people per million population. Organ donation is an important life-saving method for people with organ failure and late-stage disease. Organ Donation Organs can be donated from either living or deceased persons, depending on the type and supply of select organs. Each country is responsible for organizing its own organ transplant systems. In the United States, for example, organ donors are required to register to a national database. A lack of organs available for transplant remains a problem in many countries around the world. In the United States, there are over *** thousand people currently waiting for an organ transplant. Global organ donations The total number of transplants performed each year has been on the rise. Organ donations globally reached over *** thousand in the year 2023, with kidneys accounting for a majority of the organs transplanted. The Americas and Europe make up the largest proportion of global kidney transplants, while Africa has the lowest number. The Americans and Europe also have the highest proportions of global liver transplants.

Spain had the highest rate of organ transplants in 2023, at 120.4 per million population. This rate had increased by eight procedures compared with 2022. Portugal followed in 2023 with the second-highest rate at 90.2 transplants per million. Rate of specific transplants Spain had a rate of 77.7 kidney transplants per million population in 2023, the highest rate in Europe. Additionally, Spain had approximately 26.6 liver transplants per million in 2023, making it the fourth-highest rate in Europe behind only the rate of transplants in Croatia, Italy, and Belgium. Waiting for a transplant Spain had over 9.8 thousand patients active on the transplant waiting list in 2021, with 6.9 thousand of those waiting for a kidney transplant. This was lower the 18.8 thousand patients waiting for a kidney transplant in France, the highest amount in Europe.

In 2024/25, the organ donation rate in Wales was 22.4 per million population, the highest rate among the countries of the United Kingdom. With 20.9 organ donations per million population, Northern Ireland had the second-highest rate.Most common organs donated The most common organ offered for donation in the UK were kidneys, at nearly 3.3 thousand offers in 2024/25. The second most common organ offer in this year were livers with approximately 1.6 thousand offerings. This corresponded to the kidney having the highest rate of organ transplants in the UK (both from alive and deceased donors) at 49.8 procedures per million population as of 2023. Not all organs can be used In 2017, over 35 percent of families in the UK refused permission for organs from their deceased family member to be used for donation. This was one of the highest refusal rates in Europe. Additionally. there is cases of organs that have been donated that cannot be used for various reasons. For example, in 2021/22 over 30 kidneys donated in the UK could not be used as they were deemed clinically unsuitable for organ donation.

In 2023, Spain had the highest rate of kidney transplant procedures at 77.7 per million population. This was an increase from 2022, when the rate was 72.9 per million. Finland followed with the second-highest rate at 58.4 kidney transplants per million. Cyprus had one of the largest rate increase between the years increasing from 13.3 to 26.9 per million population. Transplant activity in Spain In comparison to the rest of Europe, Spain had the fourth-highest rate of liver transplants in 2023 with 26.6 liver transplants per million population carried out in the country. Additionally, in 2023, Spain had a heart transplant rate of 6.8 per million population, which was the fifth-highest rate in Europe in this year. Waiting on the transplant list In 2021, there were almost 6.9 thousand patients in Spain waiting for a kidney with a further 1.6 thousand patients on the liver transplant list. Although in 2021, there were 45 and 12 patients who died on the transplant list waiting for liver and lung transplants respectively.

Heart transplants are required when an individual’s heart has stopped working effectively and brings a risk to the person’s life. A person who has recently died but with a healthy heart may be a suitable donor for a heart transplant. In Europe in 2023, Croatia had the highest rate of heart transplants with 12 per million population, followed by Slovenia with a rate of ten procedures pmp. Not everyone consents to organ donation As a heart transplant requires a deceased donor, if the deceased person was not explicitly registered as a donor it is at the discretion of the family. In Ireland in 2016, fifty percent of families refused to consent to their family member’s organs being used after death. This was the highest rate of refusals in Europe between 2015 and 2017. Slovenia had a family refusal rate of almost sixteen percent in 2017. Looking for a heart Unfortunately, there are many cases of individuals who do not manage to survive long enough on the transplant list to receive a new heart. For example in Germany in 2023, 84 individuals died while waiting for a heart transplant. While in the UK, 14 deaths were recorded in 2023 among patients waiting on a heart transplant.

In 2023, Spain had the highest rate of deceased donors in Europe. The rate of organ donation, including donation after brain death (DBD) and after cardiac death (DCD), was 49.4 per million population. Portugal had the second highest rate of deceased organ donation in Europe after increasing to a rate of 36.8 per million population. Sweden experienced the largest increase in the rate of organ donation between 2021 and 2022, going from 10.2 to 25.2 donors per million population. Waiting times for organs Among the Eurotransplant community (composed of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Slovenia) over 1.2 thousand individuals died while on the transplant waiting list in 2022. Almost half of those that died on the list were waiting for a kidney, followed by around a quarter waiting for a liver. Situation in the UK In the period 2021/22, over 3.4 thousand organ donations were carried out in the UK, this figure had generally increased prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were over 6.2 thousand patients on the transplant waiting list in the UK in 2022, indicating that although the number of transplants is increasing, the amount is still not enough to match the demand for organs.

This statistic displays the number of deceased organ donors used for a transplant in selected countries in Europe from 2016 to 2024, by age. In 2024, 946 deceased donors used for a transplant in Eurotransplant countries were aged between 16 and 55 years old. The number of donors aged over 65 years of age increased over the provided time interval.

In 2024, the Latin American country with the highest number of organ transplants - including kidney, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, and small bowel - among selected nations was Brazil, with a total of ***** interventions performed. Mexico ranked second, with ***** procedures, while Argentina reported ***** organ transplants that year.

Belgium had the highest rate of liver transplants in 2023, at 29.1 per million population. This was an increase from 2022, when the rate was 25.4 per million. Italy and Croatia followed with rates of over 27 liver transplants per million. Transplant activity in Croatia In comparison to the rest of Europe, Croatia also had the highest rate of heart transplants in 2023. There were 12 heart transplants per million population carried out in the country in 2023. Additionally, in 2023, Croatia had a kidney transplant rate of 35.3 per million population, although this was comparatively low in Europe. Waiting on the transplant list The number of people in Croatia waiting for organs amounted to 413 active patients on the kidney transplant waiting list in 2023 and 329 active patients waiting for a liver. Although in 2023, there were 33 and 12 patients who died on the transplant list waiting for a liver and kidney respectively.

In 2023, the Americas reported the highest number of kidney transplants in the world. That year there were around 43,090 kidney transplants in the Americas, compared to 27,229 transplants in Europe, and 21,108 in the Western Pacific. Organ donation can be given through both a deceased and living donor if blood and oxygen are flowing through the organs until the time of recovery to ensure viability. What are the most transplanted organs? The most frequently transplanted organs worldwide are kidneys, livers, and hearts. However, kidneys account for the majority of organ transplantations with 65 percent of transplantations in 2023 involving kidneys. That year, around 24 percent of transplants were for livers and just six percent were for hearts. The rate of kidney transplants worldwide has increased over the past few years, reaching 18.5 transplants per million population in 2023, compared to a rate of 11.1 per million population in 2012. In 2023, there were a total of 111,135 kidney transplants worldwide. Organ transplants in the United States In 2023, there were 46,629 organ transplants in the United States, the highest number ever recorded. At that time, the rate of kidney transplants from living donors in the U.S. was 18.5 per million population, a slight decrease from a rate of 19.6 per million population in the year 2008. However, rates of liver, heart, and lung transplantations all increased over this period. Nevertheless, almost 105,000 people in the U.S. are currently waiting for an organ transplantation, highlighting the need for organ donation. Around 90,465 of these candidates are waiting for a kidney transplantation.

In 2024, there were *** organ transplants for individuals between the ages of 11 and 17 years old. Organ donation can be given through both a deceased and living donor if blood and oxygen are flowing through the organs until the time of recovery to ensure viability. There are over 100,000 people in the country waiting for an organ transplant. This statistic displays the number of organ transplants performed in the United States, by age group, in 2024.

The kidney is the most transplanted organ worldwide, followed by the liver and the heart. In 2023, there were a total of 172,397 organ transplants worldwide. Organ transplantation is frequently the best or only treatment for end stage organ failure, although transplantation can be challenging and complex. Kidney transplantation Kidney transplantation, or renal transplantation, is by far the most common type of organ transplantation worldwide. Although end stage renal disease can be treated through other means, such as dialysis, kidney transplantation is largely viewed as the best treatment option. Most kidney transplants are done in the Americas and in Europe, where there are a larger number of donors and better access to such procedures. Organ donors Organs can be donated either from a living donor or a deceased donor, depending on the type of organ. Organ donation frequency is different from country to country, as laws that permit or refuse donation vary. Spain, the United States, and Portugal have the highest rates of deceased organ donors worldwide; however, there are still high numbers of patients waiting for organ transplants. In the United States alone, there are almost 105 thousand candidates waiting for organ donations, the majority of which require a kidney transplantation.

In 2024, 959 of deceased donors in the Eurotransplant area had blood type A. Furthermore, 863 donors were blood type O.

The demand for organ transplants in the United States continues to outpace supply, with over 105,000 individuals awaiting life-saving procedures as of May 2025. Kidneys remain the most sought-after organ, accounting for nearly 87 percent of all transplant candidates. This significant need underscores the ongoing challenges in organ donation and allocation across the country. Trends in transplantation rates While the waiting list for organs remains long, there have been notable improvements in transplantation rates for certain organs. For instance, the rate of lung transplants per million inhabitants in the United States nearly doubled from 4.9 in 2008 to 9.1 in 2023. This increase reflects advancements in medical technology and improved organ procurement processes. Liver transplants Liver transplants are the second most common type after kidney transplants. In 2024, individuals aged 50-64 received the highest number of liver transplants, with 4,949 procedures performed for this age group. California led the nation in liver transplants performed in 2024, followed by Texas, highlighting regional variations in organ availability and medical capabilities.

In 2024, there were 1,336 multiple organ transplants in the United States. Organ donation can be given through both a deceased and living donor if blood and oxygen are flowing through the organs until the time of recovery to ensure viability. There are over 100,000 people in the country waiting for an organ transplant. This statistic displays the total number of multiple organ transplants in the United States from 1988 to 2025.

This statistic displays the rate of deceased kidney donors per million population in Europe in 2022 and 2023, by country. The rate of deceased kidney donors in Spain was **** per million population in 2023, an increase from **** per million population in 2022.

This statistic displays the number of individuals active on the Eurotransplant waiting list for a liver transplant in 2024, by composition. During that year, 43 individuals active on the Eurotransplant waiting list for a liver transplant were also waiting for a kidney transplant.

Kidney transplants were the most common organ transplants in Spain in 2024, with approximately ***** procedures. That year, ***** liver transplants, *** lung transplants, *** heart transplants, ** pancreas transplants, and **** intestinal transplants were performed in the country. Spain: leader in organ donationIn 2023, Spain had the highest rate of deceased donors in Europe. The rate of organ donation, including donation after brain death (DBD) and after cardiac death (DCD), was **** per million population. Portugal and Belgium followed, with **** and **** donors per million population, respectively. Romania and Bulgaria, on the other hand, were the European countries with the lowest rate of deceased organ donors that year. Kidney and Liver transplants in EuropeSpain has increased its rate of both kidney and liver transplant procedures in recent years. The Mediterranean country topped the European list of kidney transplantations, with a rate of **** per million population in 2023. With regards to liver transplantations, Spain ranked fourth, with a rate of **** procedures per million, a figure overtaken by Belgium, Italy and Croatia.

This statistic displays the number of individuals active on the Eurotransplant waiting list for a pancreas transplant in 2024, by composition. During this year, 365 individuals active on the Eurotransplant waiting list for a pancreas transplant were also waiting for a kidney transplant.

In 2023, the majority of individuals active on the organ donor list in Germany were waiting for a kidney. At around 9.3 thousand waiting for a kidney in 2023, this was more patients waiting than in the preceding year. The number of patients waiting for other organs has also decreased across the three-year period. Transplant activity in Germany In 2023, 25.5 kidney transplants per million population were carried out in Germany, an increase from 2021 when this rate was at 23.7 per million population. Kidney transplants are the most common organ transplant procedure carried out in Germany, ahead of liver and heart transplants with a rate of 10.4 and 4 per million population respectively. Although, there were 812 patients in Germany who died on the transplant waiting list, just under half of the deceased were waiting for a kidney transplant. European comparisons The rate of kidney transplant procedures in Germany is low compared to many other European countries. In 2021, Germany ranked 23rd out of the European Union countries in the rate of kidney transplants. Spain had the highest rate with 77.7 procedures per million population.