2025 Annual Figures: more people had the chance for an organ or tissue transplant

Patients on the waiting list are waiting less time for a new organ. The number of tissue donations also reached a record. This and more is shown in the annual figures of the Dutch Transplant Foundation (NTS).

Naomi Nathan, director of the NTS: 'It is fantastic news that more people had the chance for an organ or tissue transplant. Doctors, nurses, and other partners in the organ and tissue donation and transplantation chain have worked incredibly hard to achieve this. And we are deeply grateful to all donors and their loved ones in particular. Despite this positive development, more than 1,600 patients are still waiting for an organ transplant. This has a huge impact on their daily lives. Last year, 133 patients died while on the waiting list. In addition, 137 patients were removed from the waiting list because their medical condition had deteriorated too much. A transplant did not come in time for them. Organ donation is therefore truly vital.'

Highest number of tissue donations

In addition to organs, 3,633 people donated tissues in 2025 (such as eye tissue, skin, heart valves, bone, and tendon tissue). This is a number never reached before. The increase of 878 tissue donors compared to 2024 is mainly due to the broadening of criteria for eye tissue donation. Eye tissue can now also be donated at an advanced age: 13% of these donors were 86 years or older. Due to the increase in donors, the growing demand for eye tissue could be met. The importance of tissue donation was made clear again earlier this month when donor skin from Dutch tissue banks was used to quickly help burn victims in Switzerland.

Organ donation: the 2025 annual figures at a glance:

• Organ donation after death: 308 people donated organs after death. There were 949 organ transplants using organs from deceased donors. Although the number of organ donors decreased slightly compared to 2024, the NTS sees an upward trend in the longer term.
• Number of organ transplants: In total, there were 1,480 organ transplants in the Netherlands in 2025: 949 transplants with organs from deceased donors and 531 with organs from living donors.
• Types of organs: In total, 77 hearts, 536 kidneys, 210 livers, 30 pancreases, 118 lungs, and one small intestine were transplanted from deceased donors. More than 20 times, this involved a combined procedure: for example, a kidney and pancreas that were transplanted at the same time.
• Organ donation after euthanasia: 34 of the 308 organ donors donated organs after euthanasia. This allowed 125 transplants to take place.
• Living donation: Living organ donation is possible with a kidney or a part of the liver. In 2025, 498 kidney patients received a kidney from a living donor. This number has been stable in recent years. 33 patients received a part of a liver from a living donor.
• Waiting time and waiting list: The median waiting time for transplants has been decreasing in recent years, which is positive for patients on the waiting list. Because the match between organ and recipient is very important in an organ transplant, the waiting time did not decrease for everyone. Sometimes the right match does not come quickly or even at all.