Quick kidney disease facts and stats
Check out basic facts and statistics about chronic kidney disease.
- 37 million Americans have kidney disease.
- About 808,000 Americans are living with kidney failure.
- More than 556,000 Americans are on dialysis
- More than 250,000 Americans are living with a kidney transplant
- Kidney disease is growing at an alarming rate. It currently affects more than 1 in 7 — or 15% — of American adults, with people of color at greater risk for kidney failure.
- There were about 135,000 Americans newly diagnosed with kidney failure in 2021 (the most recent data available)
- 9 out of 10 people with kidney disease are unaware they have it, and about 1 in 3 people with severely reduced kidney function (but not yet on dialysis) do not know they have kidney disease.
- About 1 in 3 adults with diabetes may have kidney disease. Diabetes is the top cause of kidney failure, causing about 44% of new cases.
- 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure may have kidney disease. High blood pressure is the second most common cause of kidney failure, causing 29% of new cases.
- There are more than 90,000 Americans on the kidney transplant waiting list, but in 2023, just 28,144 — or nearly 1 in 4 — were able to get a kidney. Most of these transplants were from deceased donors. There were 6,290 living donor transplants performed in the U.S. last year.
- The shortage of available donor kidneys means that the vast majority of people who develop kidney failure are treated with dialysis. Of the 135,000 Americans newly diagnosed with kidney failure in 2021 (most recent data), nearly 97% of them began dialysis. Only 4,153 were able to receive a preemptive kidney transplant.
- Compared to white Americans:
- Black Americans are more than 4 times more likely to develop kidney failure
- Native Americans are about twice as likely to develop kidney failure
- Compared to non-Hispanic Americans:
- Americans of Hispanic ethnicity are about twice as likely to develop kidney failure
Basic facts about kidney disease
- Kidney disease is the fastest-growing noncommunicable disease in the U.S.
- 37 million Americans have kidney disease and millions more are at risk
- Kidney disease is a silent killer, usually with no signs or symptoms until the late stages
- Kidney disease is one of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. It kills more people each year than breast or prostate cancer.
- Kidney disease can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death
- Kidney disease can often be prevented, and the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure can often be slowed down or stopped
- While early kidney disease has no signs or symptoms, simple blood and urine tests can tell how well your kidneys are working. If you're at risk, talk to your doctor about getting tested.
- Early detection saves lives. Kidney disease is not reversible, but it is treatable. When caught and treated early, it's often possible to slow or stop the progression of kidney disease and avoid serious complications like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death.
- Your kidneys are vital organs — just like your heart, lungs and liver. Your kidneys clean your blood, help control your blood pressure, help make red blood cells and keep your bones healthy.
- Being physically active, keeping a healthy weight, consuming a kidney-friendly foods and fluids and getting tested for kidney disease can help protect your kidneys. Even small changes can make a big difference.
Your donation directly supports the fight against kidney disease
When you give to The American Kidney Fund, you provide lifesaving assistance directly to kidney patients who have nowhere else to turn. We help more people than any other kidney organization – from making 150 kidney transplants possible every month to delivering financial relief to 1 in 7 dialysis patients. We also fund clinical research, provide financial assistance for kidney patients affected by natural disasters, and support a National virtual pediatric camp and a Kidney Health Coach community program.
