Transplant trends
More deceased-donor organ transplants than ever
Thanks to the gift of life from organ donors and their families, the number of deceased organ donors and deceased-donor organ transplants performed in 2020 in the United States reached all-time highs.
In spite of the pandemic, we’re performing more deceased-donor organ transplants than in years past. Read more.
More deceased-donor organ transplants than ever
Thanks to the gift of life from organ donors and their families, the number of deceased organ donors and deceased-donor organ transplants performed in 2020 in the United States reached all-time highs.
In spite of the pandemic, we’re performing more deceased-donor organ transplants than in years past. Read more.
Continuous improvement
The U.S. system for organ donation and recovery is among the best in the world. But there is more that we can and must do. UNOS works with the organ donation and transplant community to drive improvement and save more lives.
12 things UNOS is doing to get the right organ to the right patient at the right time
2020 donors, deceased and living
18,316
Total Donors January – December 2020 as of 02/07/2021
2020 transplants
39,035
Total Transplants January – December 2020 as of 02/07/2021
2020: 10th consecutive record-breaking year
More than 12,500
deceased donors in 2020
Even with a 38% increase in deceased donation over the last five years, the need for organ donors is immense.
Data reports
UNOS’ online database, UNetSM, contains Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data regarding every organ donation and transplant event occurring in the U.S. since October 1, 1987. It enables the donation and transplantation community to cooperatively and efficiently share the limited number of donated organs.
Click below to view the type of data you want to explore.
More than 5,700
living donor transplants in 2020
The number of living donor transplants was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since June of 2020 they have occurred at rates more similar to pre-pandemic activity.
Omar was gifted “a second shot at life” when his brother became his living liver donor.
Transplants by organ type
In total, health care teams across the country performed 39,035* transplants with organs from both deceased and living donors in 2020. Here, see the percentage change from between 2019 and 2020 by organ type.
Kidney
2.5%
2020: 22,817
2019: 23,401
Liver
0.1%
2020: 8,906
2019: 8,896
Heart
3%
2020: 3,658
2019: 3,552
Lung
6.4%
2020: 2,539
2019: 2,714
Pancreas
5.6%
2020: 135
2019: 143
Kidney-pancreas
5.2%
2020: 827
2019: 872
Intestine
12.3%
2020: 91
2019: 81
Heart-lung
28.9%
2020: 58
2019: 45
Vascular composite allograft
80%
2020: 3
2019: 15
*Based on OPTN data as of Jan. 17, 2021. Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction.
Facts about organ transplantation
- The national organ transplant system
- UNOS fast facts
- 2020: Annual record trend continues for deceased organ donation, deceased donor transplants New
- FAQs about UNOS' role in the system
- Organ Procurement Organizations: Increasing organ donation
- Improving Organ Procurement and Oversight
- Improving access for liver allocation
- Improving access for kidney and pancreas allocation
- Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health
- UNOS LabsSM: Testing products, tools and methods to improve the transplant system
- 12 things UNOS is doing to get the right organ to the right patient at the right time