How common are kidney donations?

Discovery Health

Kidneys are the most frequently donated and most request transplant among organ donations. The functioning lifespan of a kidney that has been transplanted is typically nine years.

Since most of the diseases that affect the kidneys affect both simultaneously, a living donor is not typically at a greater risk for health problems than a person who has two kidneys.

Here's a closer look at some kidney transplant statistics:

The number of people added to the list between July 2006 and June 2007: 33,981
The total number of people on the kidney waiting list as of June 2007: 73,85
The number of transplants from deceased donors from July 2006 to June 2007: 10,571
The number of transplants from living donors from July 2006 to 2007: 6,164
The rate of mortality while awaiting a kidney: 7 percent

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.