Organ, eye and tissue donation statistics

Although there have been advances in medical technology and donation, the demand for organ, eye and tissue donation still vastly exceeds the number of donors. For more information, go to www.UNOS.org.

• Approximately 98,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants.
• Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
• An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.
• In 2006, there were 8,024 deceased organ donors and 6,731 living organ donors resulting in 28,934 organ transplants.
• Approximately 1,000,000 life-saving and life-enhancing tissue transplants are performed annually.
• In 2006, 44,747 corneal grafts were supplied by US eye banks. The gift of sight was donated by over 42,000 donors; 33,674 corneal transplants were performed in the US.
• According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.
• 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.
• Last year, almost 29,000 lives in the United States were saved through organ transplants. However, almost 100,000 people, including over 2000 Maryland residents, are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Sadly, due to the critical shortage of organs, many of these people will not get a second chance at life.