Quick kidney disease facts and stats
Check out basic facts and statistics about chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Medically reviewed by
- AKF's Medical Advisory Committee
- Last updated
- April 19, 2024
CKD in the United States
- 35.5 million Americans have kidney disease.
- About 808,000 Americans are living with kidney failure.
- More than 557,000 Americans are on dialysis.
- Kidney disease is growing at an alarming rate. It currently affects more than 1 in 7 (or 14%) 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.
- 9 out of 10 people with kidney disease are unaware they have it, and 1 in 3 of those with severely reduced kidney function (but not yet on dialysis) are unaware they have kidney disease.
Kidney transplants
- More than 250,000 Americans are living with a kidney transplant.
- There are more than 93,000 Americans on the kidney transplant waiting list.
- In 2023, just 27,332 were able to get a kidney transplant — 6,290 of those were from living donors.
- The shortage of available donor kidneys means that most people who develop kidney failure are treated with dialysis. Of the 135,000 Americans newly diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023, less than 3% were able to receive a transplant before starting dialysis, or a preemptive kidney transplant.
Risk factors
- About 1 in 3 adults with diabetes may have kidney disease. Diabetes is the top cause of kidney failure, causing nearly half (47%) 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 27% of new cases.
- Compared to white Americans:
- Black Americans are 4 times more likely to develop kidney failure.
- Americans of Hispanic ethnicity are 2 times more likely to develop kidney failure.
- Native Americans are 2 times more likely to develop kidney failure.
- Asian Americans are 1.4 times more likely to develop kidney failure.
- CKD is more common in people 65 years or older (34%).
Basic facts about kidney disease
- Kidney disease is the fastest-growing noncommunicable disease in the U.S.
- 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., even when accounting for COVID-19.
- 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 early death.
- Being physically active, keeping a healthy weight, following a kidney-friendly food and fluid plan 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.
