Overview
- As of 1 January 2025, 58% of adults are recorded as donors, with 34% giving explicit consent, 24% listed as “no objection,” nearly 11% delegating the decision to a relative, and 31% refusing.
- Non-response among 18–25-year-olds is shaping the totals, with 41% of this group making no choice compared with 36% in 2022, and among those who do choose, about 45% opt for no consent.
- Municipal disparities are stark: Groningen leads at 68% registered donors, Rozendaal follows at 67%, while Neder-Betuwe is lowest at 43% and Urk at 47%.
- Demographic gaps persist, with men and people with lower educational attainment more likely to make no choice and, when they do choose, more often to refuse donation.
- Healthcare leaders report tougher end-of-life discussions when records show “no objection” rather than an active yes, as transplant activity rises yet organ shortages and waiting lists remain.