Cancer epidemiology statistics
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Global Cancer Epidemiology: Incidence and Mortality Statistics
Cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges worldwide, with a high clinical, social, and economic burden. Globally, there were an estimated 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018. Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, followed by breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers for incidence, and by colorectal, stomach, and liver cancers for mortality. The most common cancers and leading causes of cancer death vary by region and are influenced by economic development and lifestyle factors. High-quality cancer registry data are still lacking in many low- and middle-income countries, making accurate global comparisons challenging 15.
United States Cancer Statistics: Incidence, Mortality, and Trends
In the United States, cancer statistics are updated annually. In 2024, approximately 2,001,140 new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths are projected. Cancer mortality has steadily declined since 1991, resulting in over 4 million deaths averted, largely due to reductions in smoking, earlier detection, and improved treatments. However, recent years have seen rising incidence rates for several cancers, including breast, pancreas, uterine corpus, prostate, liver (in females), kidney, HPV-associated oral cancers, melanoma, cervical (in younger adults), and colorectal cancers (in adults under 55). Colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death in men and the second in women under 50 .
Cancer Incidence and Mortality by Sex and Race
Cancer incidence and mortality rates are generally higher in men than in women. For example, the risk of developing cancer by age 74 is 22.4% in men and 18.2% in women. The cancer death rate is about 40% higher in men than in women in the United States. Racial and socioeconomic disparities persist, with Black individuals experiencing mortality rates twice as high as White individuals for prostate, stomach, and uterine corpus cancers, and Native American individuals facing similarly elevated rates for liver, stomach, and kidney cancers. Socioeconomic inequalities are also widening, especially for preventable cancers 1367+1 MORE.
Trends in Cancer Survival and Prognosis
Survival rates vary widely by cancer type. Prostate and thyroid cancers have the best prognosis, with five-year survival rates near 100%. In contrast, cancers of the pancreas, liver, and esophagus have poor outcomes, with five-year survival rates typically below 20%. Advances in early detection and treatment have improved survival for some cancers, such as lung and melanoma, but progress has stagnated for others, including breast and prostate cancers 189.
Progress and Ongoing Challenges in Cancer Control
The overall cancer death rate in the United States has dropped by 29% since its peak in 1991, driven by declines in the four leading cancers: lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate. However, the pace of improvement has slowed for some cancers, and incidence rates are rising for others, particularly among younger adults. Persistent disparities by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status remain a major challenge. Continued progress will require targeted prevention, improved early detection, and equitable access to high-quality treatment, especially for underserved populations 68910.
Conclusion
Cancer continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States, with significant variations in incidence, mortality, and survival by cancer type, sex, race, and region. While substantial progress has been made in reducing cancer mortality, rising incidence rates for several cancers and persistent disparities highlight the need for ongoing investment in prevention, early detection, and equitable care.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic