Tamil Nadu Leads in Deceased Organ Donation, Ranks Second in Transplants

In the year 2025, India has achieved a milestone in the organ transplantation, as it saw total 20,138 organs transplanted through the year, as per the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) Annual Report 2025–26. Released during the commemoration of the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day, Tamil Nadu is noted in the report to be leading the nation in deceased organ donations made with the help of 266 deceased donors in the year. However, even as Tamil Nadu is recognized as the state with the highest number of deceased donors, it ranks second in total organ transplants after Delhi.

Tamil Nadu Leads in Deceased Organ Donation

Tamil Nadu emerged as the India’s best-performing state in deceased organ donation during 2025.

Top States by Deceased Organ Donors (2025)

1. Tamil Nadu: 266 (Deceased Donors)
2. Telangana: 205 (Deceased Donors)
3. Karnataka: 198 (Deceased Donors)
4. Maharashtra: 154 (Deceased Donors)
5. Gujarat: 152 (Deceased Donors)
6. Andhra Pradesh: 93 (Deceased Donors)
7. Delhi NCR: 33 (Deceased Donors)
8. Kerala: 25 (Deceased Donors)
9. Punjab: 20 (Deceased Donors)

Delhi Tops in Total Organ Transplants

India performed total 20,138 organ transplants in the year 2025, the highest annual total ever recorded.

Top States by Total Organ Transplants

1. Delhi: 4,564
2. Tamil Nadu: 2,796
3. Maharashtra: 2,136
4. Telangana: 1,523
5. Kerala: 1,489

Strong Transplant Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

The country of India has the largest transplant network in Tamil Nadu.

The following is a list of important highlights.

• 172 transplant centers are the most in this Indian state.
• The highest number of transplants done in kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, pancreases, and small bowels.
• 135 organ transplants have been done on foreign nationals, coming from 63 countries, or 9% of the all transplants done in India.

Delhi continued to remain the biggest target destination for transplants among foreigners, accounting for 76% of total transplants involving foreign patients.

Organ-Wise Transplant Statistics

Kidney Transplants

Kidney transplant procedure is by far the most common one.

• Contribution to total: 62.03%
• Living donor kidney transplants: 12,491
• Kidney transplant from a deceased individual: 1,986

Liver Transplants

• The number of liver transplants is equal to 5,154.
• Contribution to total of transplants: 20.46%

Other types of organ transplants

• Heart: 239
• Lung: 210
• Pancreas: 35
• Kidney-Pancreas: 26
• Small Bowel: 23
• Heart, lung, pancreas, kidney-pancreas types of transplants have decreased compared to 2024.

Gender Gap in Organ Transplantation

The report reveals a large difference in donation data corresponding to gender.

Living Donors

• 68% Women (11,316 persons)
• 32% Men (5,298 persons)

Living Recipients

• 78% Men (12,903 persons)
• 22% Women (3,707 persons)

The statistics show that women are still providing donations at substantially higher numbers than men; however, men are receiving the majority of living donations.

Government Steps for Encouraging Organ Donation

In honor of the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day, the Ministry of Health of the Union Government has shared several initiatives:

Jug Jug Jiyo Abhiyaan

A year-long nationwide awareness campaign for promoting organ donation and motivating individuals to pledge organs.

Mobile Application of NOTTO

A new mobile app was introduced to facilitate access to information and services associated with organ donation.

National Guidelines

The Government has published the following guidelines,

• National Guidelines for Certifying the Death of the Brain Stem
• National Guidelines for Swap Transplantation

The purpose of these guidelines is to send out a standard format for the practices of organ donation and transplantation in the country.