Organ Donation Statistics

The incredible generosity that exists within our community is reflected in the organ donation statistics below. These statistics are specifically in regard to the organ transplant waiting list. In 2022, heroic organ donors saved a record number of lives through organ donation and transplantation, and there were thousands more lives saved and healed through tissue donation in Colorado. Not only did those transplants heal trauma and disease and restore sight to patients, but they saved the lives of many of our community members. Despite that, there is still a great need for transplants – if you aren’t registered, sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor and provide hope to the around 1,500 people waiting in our community.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ORGAN DONORS IN 2021 THROUGHOUT COLORADO AND IN THE UNITED STATES?

  • 278 generous organ donors made a record 829 lifesaving transplants possible in Colorado.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN COLORADO AND IN THE UNITED STATES?

  • Around 1,500 people in our community are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
  • More than 100,000 people nationwide are waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

MORE COLORADO STATISTICS & FACTS

  • 1,911 generous tissue donors provided thousands of lifesaving and healing gifts to patients suffering from trauma or disease in our area in 2022.

MORE NATIONAL STATISTICS & FACTS

  • On average, 17 people die each day while waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
  • An average of 95 organ transplants take place every day in the United States.
  • Of the patients waiting, 85% are in need of a kidney and 11% are in need of a liver transplant.
  • Every 9 minutes someone is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.

HOW DOES THE ORGAN TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST WORK?

Once a healthcare provider determines that a patient requires an organ transplant, they are placed on the organ transplant waiting list until an organ becomes available. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the national organization that sets allocation policy and matches donors to recipients. The UNOS allocation criteria is a combination of donor and transplant candidate medical data and the location of the transplant and donor hospitals. Donor Alliance ensures that lifesaving organ and tissue donations are safely and swiftly recovered and then received by those in our community waiting for a lifesaving transplant. The Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank facilitates cornea donation in Colorado.

Become a Donor

By joining the Donate Life Colorado Donor Registry, you can be someone’s hero. One heroic choice can save and heal lives.

Sign up Today