Organ Transplants and American Indians/Alaska Natives

Of the total candidates currently waiting for a transplant, 0.9% were non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives. Non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives received 0.8% of the organ transplants performed in 2024.¹
In 2024, non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives comprised 0.6% of organ donors. Of the organs recovered from non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives, 19.7% came from living donors as compared to 30.0% of the organs recovered from non-Hispanic whites.¹

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	114,997	987	0.9	44,278	38.5
Kidney	97,569	833	0.9	34,370	35.2
Liver	9,456	87	0.9	5,927	62.7
Heart	3,605	22	0.6	1,900	52.7
Lung	938	5	0.5	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 American Indian/Alaska Native	390	0.8
Non-Hispanic White	23,626	49.1
All 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 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	7,030	30	0.4	4,794	68.2
Deceased	16,988	122	0.7	11,179	65.8
Total	24,018	152	0.6	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 American Indian/Alaska Native Donors	% of All Non-Hispanic American Indian Donors	# of Non-Hispanic White Donors	% of All Non-Hispanic White Donors
Living	30	19.7	4,794	30.0
Deceased	122	80.3	11,179	70.0
Total	152	100.0	15,973	100.0

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

¹ HRSA. OPTN. Based on OPTN data as of January 12, 2025. (back)