The source of living kidney donors in the general population remains underused. The present study aims at assessing the prevalence and the characteristics of potential living kidney donors in Ivory Coast in a view of a project of kidney transplantation in French Black Africa. A survey was undertaken in Abidjan from 30 June to 7 July 2006. Nine hundred (and) sixty-two subjects living in the capital and aged between 19 and 64 years old were randomly chosen using data from the 1998 population census. Subjects were asked their age, gender, nationality, marital status, information on kidney graft and renal failure, and their willingness to donate kidney to a relative or friend for transplantation purpose. Seventy per cent of the population study appeared favourable to kidney donation. Potentials living kidney donors have displayed following characteristics: age inferior to 26 years old [OR=2.08, P<0.02, 95%CI: 1.10-3.92]; Ivorians national [OR=2.72, P<0.002, 95% CI 1.42-5.21]; having heard of kidney transplantation (OR=1.89, P<0.047, 95% CI 1-3.54]); the death of a relative or friend from renal failure [OR=1.82, P<0.002, 95% CI 1.25 2.67]. Being married adversely affect kidney donation [OR=0.52, P<0.0002, 95% CI 0.34-0.79]. Potentials living kidney donors are in great number in Ivory Coast, who had specific characteristics.