Sweden Reports 16% Rise in Deceased Organ Donors

Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare is using its annual Donation Week to encourage people to make their wishes about organ and tissue donation known. The agency says discussing donation with relatives can help avoid uncertainty if a donation situation arises; organs or tissues cannot be taken when there is conflicting information about the deceased person’s wishes.

By September 30, Sweden had reported 194 deceased organ donors, compared with 167 during the same period last year—an increase of just over 16%. At the beginning of 2026, just under 1.9 million people, about 18% of the population, were registered in the national Donation Register. The agency says most registered people consent to donation, while new registrations are declining.

The authority said demand for organs and tissues remains high, although only a small proportion of people who die can become organ donors. It also highlighted the need for tissues including skin, corneas and heart valves. These figures are a government announcement rather than a study of the effects of the campaign; they do not establish that registration or campaign activity will increase donations.