Population Health Data

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
OrganAll Candidate# of Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native CandidatesNon-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native % of All Candidates# of Non-Hispanic White CandidatesNon-Hispanic White % of All Candidates
All Organs104,4078890.940,58438.9
Kidney90,1097890.932,07635.6
Liver9,450770.85,91662.6
Heart3,486130.41,84853.0
Lung94720.261364.7
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
NumberPercentage of Total 2023 Transplants
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native3660.8
Non-Hispanic White23,47050.3
All Ethnicities46,629100
Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.

Organ Donation

U.S. Organ Donors Recovered, 2023
Donor Type# of All Donors# of Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native DonorsNon-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native % of All Donors# of Non-Hispanic White DonorsNon-Hispanic White % of All Donors
Living6,960330.54,83369.4
Deceased16,3361460.910,70365.5
Total23,2961790.815,53666.7
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
Living3318.44,83331.1
Deceased14681.610,70368.9
Total179100.015,536100.0
Source: HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of October 9, 2024.