In this article, summary data from the annual international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry Reports through July 2012 are presented. Nearly 51,000 patients have received extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Of the patients, 50% (>25,000) were neonatal respiratory failure, with a 75% overall survival to discharge or transfer. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia remains a major use of ECLS in this population with 51% survival. Extracorporeal life support use for pediatric respiratory failure has nearly doubled since 2000, with approximately 350 patients treated per year in the past 3 years examined (56% survival). Previously stable at about 100 cases a year for a decade, adult respiratory failure ECLS cases increased dramatically in 2009 with the H1N1 influenza pandemic and publication of the Conventional ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory failure (CESAR) trial results and have remained at approximately 400 cases a year through 2011 (55% survival). Use of ECLS for cardiac support represents a large area of consistent growth. Approximately 13,000 patients have been treated with survival to discharge rates of 40%, 49%, and 39% for neonates, pediatric, and adults, respectively.