Michigan’s Generosity Shines as Organ Donation Rates Climb

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Article courtesy of DeMayo Law Offices.

A new study by DeMayo Law Offices analyzed organ donor statistics across all 50 states to identify which regions have seen the highest increases over the past decade.

The study took data from The Organ Procurement & Transportation Network to examine organ donation trends from 1994 through 2024, revealing significant growth in donation rates nationwide.

Michigan ranks ninth in the nation for organ donation, with 710 registered donors in 2024, reflecting a 58.1% increase over the past decade. The state’s steady growth highlights the impact of public awareness campaigns, improvements in healthcare access, and initiatives to simplify donor registration.

This progress demonstrates Michigan’s commitment to saving lives through increased donor registration. Continued education and outreach could help Michigan build on its strong momentum and encourage even more residents to register.

States with the most organ donors in 2024

Rank	State	Number of donors	% Change 2014-2024
1	California	2,227	52.70%
2	Texas	1,980	76.30%
3	Florida	1,416	81.50%
4	New York	1,401	70.00%
5	Pennsylvania	1,244	64.60%
6	Illinois	892	39.60%
7	Ohio	872	46.60%
8	North Carolina	783	90.00%
9	Michigan	710	58.10%
10	Georgia	672	57.40%

California has the highest number of organ donors, 2,227, while Texas takes second place with 1,980 donors in 2024. Florida ranks third with 1,416 donors, followed by New York with 1,401, and Pennsylvania rounds out the top five with 1,244 donors.

Despite California having the highest number of donors, other states have experienced much more dramatic percentage increases over the past decade. Arkansas showed the most substantial growth with a 162.2% increase since 2014, followed by Wyoming at 128.6% and Kentucky at 121.8%.

South Carolina and Indiana have also seen huge growth, with increases of 119.3% and 116.8%, respectively, since 2014.

States with the fewest organ donors in 2024

Rank	State	Number of donors	% Change 2014-2024
1	North Dakota	36	5.90%
2	Vermont	38	72.70%
3	Alaska	47	4.40%
4	Wyoming	48	128.60%
5	District of Columbia	51	21.40%
6	South Dakota	54	63.60%
7	Rhode Island	65	54.80%
8	Hawaii	67	1.50%
9	Montana	79	75.60%
10	Delaware	85	28.80%

North Dakota recorded the lowest number of organ donors, with just 36 in 2024. Vermont follows with 38 donors, Alaska with 47, Wyoming with 48, and the District of Columbia with 51 donors.

Several states showed minimal growth in organ donation rates over the past decade. Maryland experienced no increase while Hawaii saw a minimal 1.5% growth. Alaska, North Dakota, and Puerto Rico followed with increases of 4.4%, 5.9%, and 14.2%, respectively.

Michael DeMayo, CEO of DeMayo Law Offices, commented on the findings:

“The variations between states raise important questions about regional differences in organ donation awareness and registration programs.”

“What’s particularly interesting is that some smaller states have shown the highest percentage increases. This suggests that targeted education campaigns and simplified donor registration processes can make a significant difference regardless of population size,”

“The study revealed that while population size naturally impacts the number of donors, the rate of increase varies significantly between states, indicating differences in public awareness, healthcare infrastructure, and state-specific donor registration policies.”

“Long-term data shows even more dramatic changes, with Nevada experiencing a 522.2% increase in organ donors since 1994.”

Methodology:

This study uses organ donor data from The Organ Procurement & Transportation Network to rank each US state based on which have had the highest increase in organ donors over the past decade.