# 2025-2026 global organ donation and transplant trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2025-organ-donation-and-transplant-trends > Updated: 2026-08-31T08:35:00.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 6. Data from 2025 indicates high levels of organ transplantation activity globally, though regional challenges persist. In Italy, the National Transplant Center reported a record 4,678 transplants in 2025, a slight increase from the previous year. The country recorded 29.8 donors per million inhabitants, ranking second in Europe behind Spain. Notable growth was seen in donations after cardiac death, which rose by 50.7% to 428 donors. Regional leaders included Veneto, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna. While major centers like Aou Città della Salute e della Scienza in Torino and Policlinico di Bari maintained high volumes, demand remains critical with 8,401 patients on waiting lists. Average waiting times reached 20 months for kidneys. Furthermore, a 29.2% opposition rate in intensive care units was estimated to have prevented approximately 2,400 potential transplants. Recent reports from Italian hospitals highlight successful multi-organ and tissue procurements. In Rho, a complex procedure involving teams from Niguarda, Policlinico, and ISMETT of Palermo benefited over sixteen patients. Other successful procurements occurred in Nuoro, involving a Spanish tourist, and in Siracusa, where two multi-organ operations were conducted in one week. In India, a record 20,138 transplants were performed in 2025, with kidney transplants making up 62.03% and liver transplants 20.46% of procedures. Deceased-donor transplants rose to 3,526, supported by a digital pledge portal with over 500,000 pledges. A significant gender imbalance persists: women accounted for 68% of living donors (primarily providing kidneys and livers) but only 22% of living recipients, while men comprised 78% of recipients. By the first half of 2026, Italy has seen divergent trends. The national average for citizens refusing organ donation when renewing identity cards rose to 41%, up from 38.5% in January. In Lombardy, 1,360 patients remain on waiting lists, primarily for kidneys. Conversely, the Liguria region reported increased transplant success, particularly at Policlinico San Martino. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-31: Italy faces rising organ donation refusals amid regional transplant growth While organ donation refusals in Italy rose to 41% in early 2026, impacting waiting lists in regions like Lombardy, Liguria has reported a significant increase in successful transplants and DCD donations. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-faces-rising-organ-donation-refusals-amid-regional-transplant-growth ### 2026-08-29: Organ donations in Italy save multiple lives in Rho and Syracuse Organ and tissue donations in Rho and Syracuse, Italy, have saved multiple lives and provided critical transplants for patients on waiting lists. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/organ-donations-in-italy-save-multiple-lives-in-rho-and-syracuse ### 2026-08-26: Italy hospitals report multiple successful organ donation procedures Multiple successful multi-organ and tissue donation procedures have been completed at hospitals in Rho, Nuoro, and Siracusa, saving or improving the lives of numerous patients in Italy. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nuoro-hospital-performs-multi-organ-donation-from-spanish-tourist ### 2026-08-09: Italy ranks second in Europe for organ donation Italy ranks second in Europe for organ donation, but faces high waiting lists and a critical shortage of 0+ and 0- blood types at the Gemelli hospital. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-ranks-second-in-europe-for-organ-donation ### 2026-08-05: India's organ donation shows gender gap: women donate, men receive In 2025 India saw 68% of living organ donors were women while 78% of recipients were men; kidneys and livers dominated, with a record 20,138 transplants performed. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-organ-donation-shows-gender-gap-women-donate-men-receive ### 2026-08-04: Italy records highest organ transplants in 2025, second in Europe Italy performed a record 4,678 organ transplants in 2025, ranking second in Europe. Donations after cardiac death rose sharply, live donations increased, and 8,401 patients remained on waiting lists. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-records-highest-organ-transplants-in-2025-second-in-europe --- Cite as: 2025-2026 global organ donation and transplant trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2025-organ-donation-and-transplant-trends