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US Kidney Statistics

Kidney Disease Statistics in Washington, USA

Kidney disease represents one of the most serious and costly chronic health conditions affecting Washington State residents. From the early stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) to the life-threatening diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), kidney conditions impose an enormous physical, financial, and social burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system. With 3.7% of Washington adults having been told they have kidney disease, and over 14,000 residents currently living with kidney failure, the scale of the problem demands close attention.

Kidney failure — the most advanced stage of kidney disease — requires lifelong treatment through dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. In Washington, the number of residents living with kidney failure has grown by nearly 40% over the past decade, driven largely by rising rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, the two leading causes of ESRD. While transplantation offers dramatically better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs, a persistent shortage of donor organs means that the overwhelming majority of patients depend on dialysis — an intensive and burdensome form of life support.

This article presents a comprehensive statistical overview of kidney disease in Washington. The data covers disease prevalence, new case trends, transplant activity, transplant center performance, cancer incidence, financial assistance, and patient demographics — providing a detailed picture of the current state of kidney disease across Washington.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects a significant share of Washington’s adult population. The state’s CKD rate places it in the middle tier nationally, ranking 16th among all U.S. states.

Percentage of adults ever told they have kidney disease: 3.7%
Washington state ranking (out of 50 states): 16th

Note: This figure excludes kidney stones, bladder infection, and incontinence.

Washington’s 3.7% CKD prevalence rate and 16th national ranking indicate a moderate burden relative to other states. The ranking suggests that nearly half of all states have lower rates, pointing to room for improvement through early detection and risk-factor management.

End-Stage Renal Disease (Kidney Failure)

Statewide Trends

Kidney failure, also known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is a life-threatening condition requiring dialysis or transplant to survive. The following table tracks the total number of Washingtonians living with kidney failure across multiple reporting years.

Report Year	Total Living with Kidney Failure	On Dialysis	Living with Transplant
2021	13,081	8,329	4,752
2022	13,543	8,629	4,914
2024	13,956	8,756	5,200
2025	14,016	8,617	5,399

Additional long-term growth benchmarks reported in various years:

Total kidney failure cases increased 40.2% since 2009 (per 2022 report)
Total kidney failure cases increased 44% since 2011 (per 2024 report)
Total kidney failure cases increased 38% since 2012 (per 2025 report)

The upward trend is consistent and significant across all reporting years. From 2021 to 2025, the total number of Washingtonians living with kidney failure grew by approximately 7%, with dialysis remaining the dominant treatment modality. The growing share of patients with transplants — from 4,752 to 5,399 — suggests modest but steady improvement in transplant access.

New Cases Diagnosed

Each year, thousands of Washingtonians are newly diagnosed with kidney failure. The data below reflects new diagnoses from various reporting cycles, each with a 2–3 year data lag.

Year Diagnosed: 2018

New cases: 2,111
Received kidney transplant: 80
Began dialysis: 2,031

Year Diagnosed: 2019

New cases: 2,192
Received kidney transplant: 83
Began dialysis: 2,109

Year Diagnosed: 2021

New cases: 2,197
Received kidney transplant: 88
Began dialysis: 2,109

Year Diagnosed: 2022

New cases: 2,098
Received kidney transplant: 90
Began dialysis: 2,008

New kidney failure diagnoses in Washington have remained in the range of roughly 2,100–2,200 per year. A striking disparity exists between those who receive a transplant and those placed on dialysis at the time of diagnosis — only about 4% of newly diagnosed patients receive a transplant immediately, while the overwhelming majority (over 95%) begin dialysis.

Risk Factors and Causes of Kidney Failure

Population at Risk

Several underlying health conditions significantly elevate the risk of developing kidney failure. Washington’s at-risk population is substantial across all three major risk categories.

Diagnosed with diabetes: 9.4% of Washington adults
Have high blood pressure: 30.3% of Washington adults
Self-report as obese: 28.3% of Washington adults

High blood pressure affects nearly one-third of Washington adults, making it the most prevalent kidney disease risk factor in the state. Combined with nearly 10% of the population living with diabetes and over 28% reporting obesity — both leading causes of kidney failure — a large segment of Washington’s population is at elevated risk of progressing to ESRD.

Leading Causes of Kidney Failure

Diabetes and high blood pressure account for the overwhelming majority of kidney failure cases in Washington. The table below tracks how these proportions have shifted over recent reporting periods.

Report Year	Caused by Diabetes	Caused by High Blood Pressure
2022	47%	28%
2024	44%	29%
2025	43%	30%

Diabetes has consistently been the leading cause of kidney failure in Washington, though its share appears to be declining slightly (from 47% to 43%). High blood pressure, by contrast, has edged upward slightly (28% to 30%). Together, these two conditions account for approximately 73% of all kidney failure cases, underscoring the importance of managing these chronic conditions to prevent ESRD progression.

Cancer Incidence — Kidney & Renal Pelvis

Washington vs. National Average

Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is tracked separately from kidney failure. Washington’s kidney cancer rate is well below the national average, and the state’s overall cancer burden likewise ranks below the national norm.

Kidney & Renal Pelvis cancer rate — Washington: 15.5 per 100,000
Kidney & Renal Pelvis cancer rate — United States: 17.5 per 100,000
All cancer sites rate — Washington: 439.7 per 100,000 (ranked 35th among U.S. states)
All cancer sites rate — United States: 448.6 per 100,000
Washington 5-year trend (all cancer sites): Falling (−0.8)

Incidence by County (Male, All Ages, 2018–2022)

The table below shows kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence rates for Washington counties among males. The statewide male rate (20.7) is declining faster than the national male rate (23.7).

County	Rural/Urban	Rate per 100,000	Avg. Annual Count	Recent 5-Yr Trend
Washington (statewide)	—	20.7	909	Falling (−3.3)
US (SEER+NPCR)	—	23.7	45,124	Falling (−1.1)
Okanogan County	Rural	25.7	9	Stable
Grays Harbor County	Rural	25.3	14	Stable
Douglas County	Urban	25.0	6	Stable
Grant County	Rural	24.9	12	Rising (+3.0)
Clallam County	Rural	24.8	17	Stable
Whatcom County	Urban	24.3	33	Rising (+1.1)
Pierce County	Urban	24.3	119	Stable
San Juan County	Rural	24.3	5	*
Mason County	Rural	23.7	11	Stable
Skagit County	Urban	23.1	21	Stable
Thurston County	Urban	22.6	42	Stable
Clark County	Urban	22.5	64	Rising (+1.0)
Walla Walla County	Urban	22.0	9	Stable
Franklin County	Urban	22.0	9	Stable
Island County	Rural	22.0	15	Stable
Stevens County	Urban	21.3	7	Stable
Kittitas County	Rural	21.0	6	*
Cowlitz County	Urban	20.4	15	Stable
Klickitat County	Rural	20.3	3	*
King County	Urban	19.9	227	Stable
Kitsap County	Urban	19.8	35	Rising (+1.0)
Snohomish County	Urban	19.4	88	Falling (−3.2)
Yakima County	Urban	19.2	25	Stable
Spokane County	Urban	19.3	62	Stable
Benton County	Urban	19.1	21	Stable
Jefferson County	Rural	19.0	7	*
Lewis County	Rural	17.5	10	Stable
Chelan County	Urban	16.6	9	Stable
Pacific County	Rural	13.4	3	Falling (−17.5)

* = data suppressed or insufficient

Washington’s statewide male kidney cancer rate (20.7) is declining at more than three times the national rate (−3.3 vs. −1.1). At the county level, Grant County shows the strongest rising trend (+3.0), and several other urban counties — Clark, Whatcom, and Kitsap — also show rising trends. Rural counties often have comparable or higher rates than urban ones, despite lower absolute case counts. King County, the most populous, has a stable rate (19.9) with by far the highest annual case count (227). Pacific County has the lowest rate (13.4) and the sharpest decline.

Cancer Incidence Across All Sites — Washington vs. U.S.

Kidney cancer is one of many cancer types tracked at the state level. The list below presents age-adjusted incidence rates for all tracked cancer sites in Washington compared to the national average (2018–2022).

Cancer Site	Washington Rate	U.S. Rate
Bladder	19.9	18.8
Brain & ONS	7.0	6.3
Breast (Female)	137.9	131.3
Breast in situ (Female)	31.6	29.8
Cervix (Female)	6.6	7.5
Colon & Rectum	34.0	36.7
Esophagus	4.8	4.6
Kidney & Renal Pelvis	15.5	17.5
Leukemia	14.6	14.3
Liver & Bile Duct	8.6	8.6
Lung & Bronchus	47.8	52.5
Melanoma of the Skin	25.8	23.1
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma	18.9	18.5
Oral Cavity & Pharynx	13.1	12.1
Ovary (Female)	9.7	10.0
Pancreas	13.8	13.7
Prostate (Male)	105.8	116.4
Stomach	5.9	6.5
Thyroid	12.0	12.9
Uterus (Female)	27.2	27.9

Washington performs favorably compared to national averages across many cancer types. In addition to kidney cancer, Washington has lower rates for lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer. Washington exceeds the U.S. average in bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. The lower kidney cancer rate is consistent with the state’s overall below-average cancer burden.

Kidney Transplants in Washington

Transplant Activity Overview

Kidney transplantation is the most effective long-term treatment for kidney failure. The following table summarizes transplant activity and waiting list data across multiple years.

Year of Transplants	Total Transplants	Living Donor	Deceased Donor	Patients on Waiting List
2016	367	—	—	1,653
2020	440	—	—	1,521
2021	491	104	387	1,495
2023	486	89	397	1,222
2024	539	88	451	1,233

Additional transplant context by reporting year:

In 2020, only about 1 in 3 Washington residents on the waiting list received a kidney transplant
From 2011 to 2021: 37.2% increase in total transplants; 9.6% decrease in living donor transplants
From 2013 to 2023: 22% increase in total transplants
From 2014 to 2024: 24% increase in total transplants; 20% decrease in living donor transplants
In 2016, 92 patients died while on the transplant waiting list

Total kidney transplants in Washington have grown substantially since 2016, rising from 367 to 539 by 2024 — an increase of approximately 47%. However, this growth has been driven almost entirely by deceased donor transplants: living donor transplants have declined by 20% since 2014, falling from around 110 to just 88 in 2024. The waiting list has also shrunk from 1,653 in 2016 to 1,233 in 2025, a positive development, though access remains constrained — in 2020, only 1 in 3 patients on the list received a transplant.

Kidney Transplant Centers

Washington has five kidney transplant centers. The tables below cover donor activity, recipient activity, and patient outcomes for each center (data period: April 2025 – March 2026).

Donor Activity

Rank	Center Name	NKR Transplants (Last 12 Mo.)	Deceased Donor Prioritization	Living Donor (NKR)	Donor Shield	Remote Donation	Voucher Program	NKR Member	Equal Access	Donor Referral Network	Kidney for Life
1	UW Medical Center	17	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2	Virginia Mason Medical Center	16	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
3	Seattle Children’s Hospital	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
4	Swedish Medical Center	0	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
5	Providence Sacred Heart	0	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Total	35	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	4/5	2/5	1/5	1/5

Recipient Activity

Rank

Center Name

Kidney for Life

Low Eplet Transplants

NKR Transplants

NKR Living Donor Transplants

Total Living Donor Transplants

NKR % of Living Donors

Patient Microsites

Non-Steroidal Protocol

Voucher Program

NKR Member

Equal Access

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Yes

94%

Yes

UW Medical Center

38%

Yes

Seattle Children’s Hospital

17%

Yes

Swedish Medical Center

Yes

Providence Sacred Heart

Total

1/5

36%

1/5

4/5

UW Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center are Washington’s most active transplant centers by NKR volume (17 and 16 transplants, respectively, in the last 12 months). Virginia Mason stands out for its exceptionally high NKR percentage among living donor transplants (94%), meaning nearly all of its living donor transplants were facilitated through the National Kidney Registry. Swedish Medical Center performed 26 living donor transplants without using NKR at all. Providence Sacred Heart shows no activity and lacks most program certifications, suggesting it may not be a functioning transplant center.

Adult Outcomes

Graft and patient survival rates are the most critical indicators of transplant center quality. The following data covers adult transplant outcomes.

Rank	Center Name	NKR Transplants	Living Donor Tx	LD 1-Yr Graft Survival	LD 3-Yr Graft Survival	LD 1-Yr Patient Survival	LD 3-Yr Patient Survival	DD 1-Yr Graft Survival	DD 3-Yr Graft Survival	DD 1-Yr Patient Survival	DD 3-Yr Patient Survival
1	UW Medical Center	17	37	99%	96%	100%	97%	95%	94%	98%	96%
2	Virginia Mason Medical Center	16	16	96%	95%	100%	97%	93%	87%	95%	90%
3	Swedish Medical Center	0	26	100%	95%	100%	96%	95%	91%	97%	95%
4	Providence Sacred Heart	0	0	100%	100%	100%	100%	95%	93%	96%	94%

LD = Living Donor; DD = Deceased Donor

Pediatric Outcomes

Only one center in Washington performs pediatric kidney transplants.

Center Name	NKR Transplants	Living Donor Tx	LD 1-Yr Graft Survival	LD 3-Yr Graft Survival	LD 1-Yr Patient Survival	LD 3-Yr Patient Survival	DD 1-Yr Graft Survival	DD 3-Yr Graft Survival	DD 1-Yr Patient Survival	DD 3-Yr Patient Survival
Seattle Children’s Hospital	2	6	100%	96%	100%	100%	97%	94%	97%	100%

All four active adult transplant centers in Washington demonstrate strong outcomes. UW Medical Center leads in volume (37 living donor transplants) and achieves excellent results — including 99% one-year graft survival for living donor recipients and 100% one-year patient survival. Swedish Medical Center, despite performing no NKR transplants, reports 100% one-year patient and graft survival for living donor patients. Seattle Children’s Hospital shows impressive pediatric outcomes, with 100% one- and three-year patient survival for living donor recipients and 100% three-year patient survival for deceased donor recipients.

Kidney Disease Mortality

Kidney disease causes significant mortality in Washington state. The following data reflects the most recently available mortality figures.

Kidney disease death rate (per 100,000): 5.2
Total kidney disease deaths: 491

With 491 deaths and a rate of 5.2 per 100,000, kidney disease represents a notable cause of mortality in Washington. The fact that over 80% of ESRD patients cannot work due to the severity of their condition underscores that the burden of kidney failure extends well beyond mortality statistics, encompassing severe disability and reduced quality of life.

Healthcare Costs and Insurance

Medicare Costs

Medicare is the dominant payer for dialysis in the United States, and the cost differential between dialysis and transplant is dramatic.

Dialysis patient: $85,979 per year (average cost to Medicare)
Transplant patient (after first year): $32,586 per year (average cost to Medicare)
Kidney disease diagnostic test: $80–$143

Related Medicare-Covered Patient Counts (from earlier reporting period):

Medicare patients diagnosed with CKD: 3,206
Medicare patients on dialysis: 5,854
Medicare patients with kidney transplant: 8,500
Medicare patients on transplant waitlist: 1,653

The cost data reveals a stark economic argument for transplantation over dialysis: Medicare spends more than 2.6 times as much annually on dialysis patients ($85,979) compared to transplant recipients after the first year ($32,586). Despite this, most patients remain on dialysis due to the shortage of donor kidneys. Washington does not currently offer Medigap insurance to dialysis patients under age 65, leaving a significant coverage gap for working-age patients. Medicare pays for over 80% of all dialysis treatments nationally.

Insurance Coverage Among AKF-Assisted Patients

The insurance mix among low-income kidney patients receiving AKF assistance has shifted over time. The data below breaks down coverage types for available reporting years.

2021

Medicare Part B: 36.8%
Medigap: 31.1%
Employer Group Plans (incl. COBRA): 18.9%
Commercial Plans: 10.5%
Exchange Plans: 3.4%
Annuity: 1.5%
Medicare Advantage: 1.2%
Medicaid: 0.1%

2023

Medicare Part B: 44.6%
Medigap: 23.4%
Employer Group Plans (incl. COBRA): 17.2%
Medicare Advantage: 1.4%

2024

Medigap: 27.3%
Medicare Part B: 25.0%
Commercial/Employer Plans (incl. COBRA): 20.1%
Medicare Advantage: 0.6%

Medicare Part B was the dominant insurer among AKF recipients in 2021 and 2023, but fell sharply by 2024 (from 44.6% to 25%), while Medigap and commercial/employer plans grew in relative share. Washington does not currently offer Medigap insurance to dialysis patients under 65, a policy gap that may contribute to financial hardship for working-age patients.

Financial Assistance and Patient Demographics

AKF Charitable Assistance to Washington Patients

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) provides charitable grants to low-income dialysis and transplant patients to help cover insurance premiums and other healthcare-related costs not covered by insurance. The figures below track the number of Washington recipients and total assistance provided each year.

2020: 1,245 patients received grants totaling $5,000,000
2021: 1,133 patients received grants totaling $4,686,644
2023: 857 patients received grants totaling $3,657,213
2024: 874 patients received grants totaling $3,493,602

Both the number of AKF grant recipients and the total assistance amount have declined steadily since 2020, dropping by approximately 30% in both recipients and dollars by 2024. This may reflect changes in eligibility, available funding, or shifts in insurance coverage among kidney failure patients.

Financial Hardship

Kidney failure imposes an extreme and disproportionate economic burden on patients. The figures below describe the financial reality for Washington’s low-income dialysis and transplant population.

ESRD patients who cannot work: more than 80%
Average income of AKF-assisted patients: less than $25,000 per year
Average out-of-pocket costs for dialysis patients: more than $10,000 per year
Share of out-of-pocket costs relative to income: approximately 40%+ of annual income

Racial and Ethnic Demographics

Kidney failure disproportionately affects minority communities in Washington. The table below shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Washington patients who received AKF assistance.

Black: 34.7%
Hispanic/Latino: 20.9%
Native American / Asian / Pacific Islander: 5.2%
Minority patients (total): more than 60%

The financial burden of kidney failure is severe and concentrated among the most economically vulnerable. With average incomes below $25,000 and out-of-pocket costs exceeding $10,000 annually, dialysis patients face financial catastrophe without assistance. More than 60% of AKF-assisted patients in Washington are racial or ethnic minorities, despite minorities making up a smaller share of the general population — reflecting well-documented health disparities in kidney disease risk, access to care, and outcomes. The inability of more than 80% of dialysis patients to work compounds these financial challenges significantly.

Conclusion

The data presented in this article paints a clear and concerning picture: kidney disease in Washington is a growing, costly, and underaddressed public health challenge. The number of Washingtonians living with kidney failure has increased by 38–44% over the past decade, with over 14,000 residents currently dependent on dialysis or a transplant to survive. While the total number of kidney transplants performed in the state rose by approximately 47% between 2016 and 2024, this growth has been driven almost entirely by deceased donor transplants. Living donor transplants — which typically yield the best long-term outcomes — have actually declined by 20% since 2014, pointing to a critical need for programs that support and encourage living donation.

Financial hardship is an inseparable part of the kidney failure experience for many Washington residents. With more than 80% of dialysis patients unable to work, average incomes below $25,000, and out-of-pocket costs exceeding $10,000 per year, the economic strain is extreme. Charitable organizations such as the American Kidney Fund provided critical support to hundreds of Washington patients each year, though the number of grant recipients and total assistance dollars have declined since 2020. The state’s lack of Medigap coverage for dialysis patients under 65 compounds this vulnerability. At the same time, racial and ethnic minorities — who make up over 60% of AKF-assisted patients in Washington — bear a disproportionate share of the burden, reflecting persistent health disparities in risk, access to care, and outcomes.

On a more encouraging note, Washington’s kidney and renal pelvis cancer rate (15.5 per 100,000) remains well below the national average of 17.5, and the statewide cancer incidence trend is falling. Washington’s transplant centers, led by UW Medical Center and Virginia Mason Medical Center, demonstrate strong outcomes across both living and deceased donor transplants. The state’s large at-risk population — nearly 10% living with diabetes, over 30% with high blood pressure, and over 28% reporting obesity — underscores that prevention remains the most powerful tool available. Addressing the root causes of kidney disease through chronic disease management, equitable access to care, and expanded donor programs will be essential to bending the curve on Washington’s growing kidney disease burden.