Facts & statistics
Organ and tissue donors transformed over 1,000 lives in 2008. Although Australia has
a high transplant success rate, it has a very low donation rate.
Organ & tissue donation facts
Facts & statistics
ÖÖ One organ and tissue donor can save the lives
of up to 10 people and significantly improve the
lives of dozens more.
ÖÖ Australia has a world class reputation for
successful transplant outcomes.
ÖÖ Australia also has one of the lowest donation
rates in the developed world when measured
by donors per million population.
ÖÖ 90% of Australians support organ and tissue
donation.
ÖÖ 30% of Australians don’t discuss their donation
wishes with their family.
ÖÖ 40% of Australians don’t realise their family
makes the final decision about donation.
ÖÖ Around 1700 people are on official organ
transplant waiting lists at any one time.
ÖÖ On average, people on transplant lists wait
4 years.
ÖÖ In 2008, only one third of the demand for solid
organ transplantation was able to be met.
ÖÖ In 2008, the Australian population had 12
donors per million; Spain had 34, the US 24,
Estonia 23, Italy 21 and the United Kingdom 15.
ÖÖ Australia is a world leader in the number of
organs that are able to be transplanted from
each donor. The average donation in 2008 was
3.4 organs.
ÖÖ Australia’s rate of cornea donation puts it in the
top five countries for corneal donation rates.
ÖÖ In 2008, 1096 people donated their corneas. As
a result, 1696 people had their sight restored.
ÖÖ Each year, 3000-4000 skin, heart and
musculoskeletal tissues are transplanted.
Australians’ donor record in 2008
The following statistics on organ donation in
Australia have been compiled from the Australian
and New Zealand Organ Donor Registry (ANZOD).
For more information, visit www.anzdata.org.au
ÖÖ 259 deceased donors gave 889 organs, 356
living donors gave 353 kidneys and 3 part livers
(see table below).
ÖÖ 43% of kidney donations were from living
donors.
ÖÖ Donors ranged from 1 year of age to 82 years,
with an average age of 45 years.
ÖÖ 83% of organ donors donated more than one
organ.
ÖÖ Of the organs that were donated,
97% of kidneys, 95% of livers, 93%
of hearts, 98% of lungs and 40%
of pancreases were able to be
transplanted.
ÖÖ Nine livers were sent to New
Zealand for transplantation.
ÖÖ The average Australian donor rate
was 12 donors per million people.
By state the rate was (per million of
the population):
• South Australia: 27
• Tasmania: 16
• Northern Territory: 14
• Victoria: 13
• Western Australia: 13
• Queensland: 11
• Australian Capital Territory: 9
• New South Wales: 8
One donor can save the
lives of up to ten people
October 2009
facts & statistics

Other organ donation statistics

2008 – Transplanted organs 2008 – Cause of donors’ death
in Australia Cause Number
Organ Source Number Cerebral vascular accident (CVA) 129
Kidneys Deceased 459 – blocked or burst blood vessel in the
donor brain, e.g. stroke
Live donor 353 Hypoxia anoxia 58
– diminished or total loss of oxygen
Livers Deceased 188
to the brain e.g. anaphylaxis, cardiac
donor
arrest, drowning, hanging
Live donor 3
Other trauma 33
Heart 82 e.g. fall, assault, gunshot, sports injury
Heart/lung 5 Road trauma 30
Lungs Double 100 e.g. car, cyclist, pedestrian accident
Single 12 Other 9
Pancreas/ 32 Total 259
kidney
Source: Australia and New Zealand Organ
Pancreas islets 11 Registry (ANZOD), Annual Report 2008.
Total 1245

Source: Australia and New Zealand Organ

Registry (ANZOD), Annual Report 2008. The following tissue donation statistics are compiled
from the Australasian Tissue Biotherapeutics Forum,
published in the National Clinical Taskforce on Organ
Australian organ transplant and Tissue Donation – Final Report 2008.
waiting list at 1 January 2009
Organ Number Tissue donation in Australia:
Kidneys 1298 September 2006 – August 2007*
Livers 136 Tissue Donor Number
Hearts 44 Skin Deceased – also donated organs 6
Heart/lung 5 Deceased – unable to donate organs 87
Lungs 96 Heart tissue Deceased – also donated organs 46
Pancreas/kidney 31 Deceased – unable to donate organs 107
Pancreas 4 Following removal during surgery 13
Pancreas islets 11 Musculo- Deceased – also donated organs 13
Total 1625 skeletal Deceased – unable to donate organs 171
tissue
Source: Australia and New Zealand Organ Following removal during surgery 3993
Registry (ANZOD), Annual Report 2008. Total tissues donated 4436

* Data incomplete

For more information visit www.donatelife.gov.au

Make sure you and your loved ones discuss Australian Organ and Tissue Authority
your wish to be an organ donor. Some 2000 Level 5, 51 Allara Street Canberra ACT 2600
Australians waiting for donor organs wish PO Box 295 Civic Square ACT 2608
you would. Telephone 02 6198 9800 Facsimile 02 6198 9801

October 2009 2
Your wish can save a life. But only if you tell someone!