Organ Transplants and American Indians/Alaska Natives

In 2023, about 0.8% of the total candidates currently waiting for transplants were American Indians/Alaska Natives and American Indians/Alaska Natives comprised 0.8% of organ donors.
In 2023, 18.4% of the organs recovered from American Indians/Alaska Natives came from living donors as compared to 31.1% of non-Hispanic whites.

Organ Transplants

U.S. Transplant Waiting List – Candidates by Race/Ethnicity
Organ	All Candidate	# of Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Candidates	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native % of All Candidates	# of Non-Hispanic White Candidates	Non-Hispanic White % of All Candidates
All Organs	104,407	889	0.9	40,584	38.9
Kidney	90,109	789	0.9	32,076	35.6
Liver	9,450	77	0.8	5,916	62.6
Heart	3,486	13	0.4	1,848	53.0
Lung	947	2	0.2	613	64.7

Source: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.

Transplants in the United States by Recipient Race/Ethnicity, 2023
	Number	Percentage of Total 2023 Transplants
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	366	0.8
Non-Hispanic White	23,470	50.3
All Ethnicities	46,629	100

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.

U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, 2023
Donor Type	# of All Donors	# of Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Donors	Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native % of All Donors	# of Non-Hispanic White Donors	Non-Hispanic White % of All Donors
Living	6,960	33	0.5	4,833	69.4
Deceased	16,336	146	0.9	10,703	65.5
Total	23,296	179	0.8	15,536	66.7

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.

U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, Living vs Deceased, 2023
Donor Type	# of Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native Donors	% of All Non-Hispanic American Indian Donors	# of Non-Hispanic White Donors	% of All Non-Hispanic White Donors
Living	33	18.4	4,833	31.1
Deceased	146	81.6	10,703	68.9
Total	179	100.0	15,536	100.0

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.

Last Edited: 10/29/2024