Organ Transplants and Black/African Americans

Of the total candidates currently waiting for a transplant, 27.8% were non-Hispanic Black/African Americans. Non-Hispanic Black/African Americans received 22.8% of the organ transplants performed in 2024.¹
In 2024, non-Hispanic Black/African Americans comprised 12.6% of organ donors. Of the organs recovered from non-Hispanic Black/African Americans, 17.0% came from living donors as compared to 30.0% of the organs recovered from non-Hispanic whites.²

Organ Transplants

U.S. Transplant Waiting List – Candidates by Race/Ethnicity
Organ	All Candidates	# of Non-Hispanic Black Candidates	Non-Hispanic Black % of All Candidates	# of Non-Hispanic White Candidates	Non-Hispanic White % of All Candidates
All Organs	114,997	31,917	27.8	44,278	38.5
Kidney	97,569	29,190	29.9	34,370	35.2
Liver	9,456	658	7.0	5,927	62.7
Heart	3,605	1,007	27.9	1,900	52.7
Lung	938	134	14.3	586	62.5

Source: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Based on OPTN data as of January 12, 2025.

Transplants in the United States by Recipient Race/Ethnicity, 2024
	Number	Percentage of Total 2024 Transplants
Non-Hispanic Black	10,989	22.8
Non-Hispanic White	23,626	49.1
All Races/Ethnicities	48,137	100.0

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of January 12, 2025.

U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, 2024
Donor Type	# of All Donors	# of Non-Hispanic Black Donors	Non-Hispanic Black % of All Donors	# of Non-Hispanic White Donors	Non-Hispanic White % of All Donors
Living	7,030	513	7.3	4,794	68.2
Deceased	16,988	2,508	14.8	11,179	65.8
Total	24,018	3,021	12.6	15,973	66.5

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of January 12, 2025.

U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, Living vs Deceased, 2024
Donor Type	# of Non-Hispanic Black Donors	Non-Hispanic Black % of All Donors	# of Non-Hispanic White Donors	Non-Hispanic White % of All Donors
Living	513	17.0	4,794	30.0
Deceased	2,508	83.0	11,179	70.0
Total	3,021	100.0	15,973	100.0

Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of January 12, 2025.

² HRSA. OPTN. (back)

Last Edited: 01/16/2025