Organ Donation Facts  

  • One organ donor can save up to eight lives
  • One eye and tissue donor can enhance the lives of as many as 50 people
  • More than 28,000 lives are saved every year by organ donors

Where Organ Donation Support is Needed

80% of patients on the waiting list are waiting for a kidney. The average waiting time for a kidney from a deceased donor is 3 to 5 years. A kidney from a living donor offers patients an alternative to years of dialysis and time on the national transplant waiting list. (the living donor’s remaining kidney will enlarge, doing the work of two healthy kidneys).

12% of patients waiting need a liver. Living donation of part of a liver can help these patients (the remaining portion of the donor liver will regenerate and regain full function).

Nearly one-third of all deceased donors are age 50 or older; more than 7% are age 65 or older.

Your registration to donate tissues and organs will give immediate hope to the thousands of people waiting and your end-of-life donation will mean a renewed chance at survival. A single tissue donor can help more than 75 people.

Sign up to be a registered organ donor today.

Visit organdonor.gov for information on how you can register.