Distribution of blood types in the U.S. as of 2023

The eight main blood types are A+, A-, B+, B-, O+, O-, AB+, and AB-. The most common blood type in the United States is O-positive, with around 38 percent of the population having this type of blood. However, blood type O-positive is more common in Latino-Americans than other ethnicities, with around 53 percent of Latino-Americans with this blood type, compared to 47 percent of African Americans and 37 percent of Caucasians.

Blood donation

The American Red Cross estimates that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets, highlighting the importance of blood donation. It was estimated that in 2021, around 6.5 million people in the U.S. donated blood, with around 1.7 million of these people donating for the first time. Those with blood type O-negative are universal blood donors, meaning their blood can be transfused for any blood type. Therefore, this blood type is the most requested by hospitals. However, only about seven percent of the U.S. population has this blood type.

Blood transfusion

Blood transfusion is a routine procedure that involves adding donated blood to a patient’s body. There are many reasons why a patient may need a blood transfusion, including surgery, cancer treatment, severe injury, or chronic illness. In 2021, there were around 10.76 million blood transfusions in the United States. Most blood transfusions in the United States occur in an inpatient medicine setting, while critical care accounts for the second highest number of transfusions.