In 2023, about 20,380 people in the US were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a share that is small at roughly 1.3% of new cancer cases yet concentrated in one group that is hard to miss, with a median diagnosis age of 68 years. Survival and risk factors swing sharply, from 5 year overall survival of 50 to 70% in favorable cytogenetics to a median outlook of just 8 to 12 months with adverse disease. Below, the picture gets even more concrete, including what shows up at diagnosis such as fatigue and anemia and how exposures like prior chemotherapy or radiation can raise the odds far beyond the typical baseline.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 20,380 new cases of AML diagnosed in the US in 2023
- AML accounts for about 1.3% of all new cancer cases in the US
- Median age at diagnosis for AML is 68 years
- Prior chemotherapy exposure increases AML risk 10-fold
- Smoking doubles AML risk in heavy smokers
- Radiation exposure (e.g., atomic bomb survivors) raises AML risk 10-50x
- 5-year survival 10-20% over age 65
- Favorable cytogenetics: 5-year OS 50-70%
- Adverse risk: median OS 8-12 months
- Fatigue is the most common symptom in 90% of AML patients
- Anemia present at diagnosis in 85-90% of cases
- Bone marrow blasts ≥20% defines AML diagnosis
- Induction chemotherapy CR rate 60-80% in young patients
- 7+3 regimen (cytarabine + daunorubicin) standard for fit patients
- Venetoclax + HMA CR/CRi 67% in unfit elderly
In the US, AML affects mostly older adults, with 2023 cases rising, low survival, and strong risk factors.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence And Prevalence30 stats
01
Approximately 20,380 new cases of AML diagnosed in the US in 2023
02
AML accounts for about 1.3% of all new cancer cases in the US
03
Median age at diagnosis for AML is 68 years
04
Incidence rate of AML is 4.1 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 data
05
AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults
06
Globally, there were about 147,000 new AML cases in 2020
07
AML incidence increases with age, peaking after 65 years
08
In children, AML represents 15-20% of all leukemias
09
US death rate for AML is 2.7 per 100,000 men and women per year
10
AML comprises 80% of acute leukemias in adults
11
Lifetime risk of developing AML is 0.5% (1 in 200)
12
Annual incidence in Europe is about 3.7 per 100,000
13
AML incidence in Japan is lower at 2.4 per 100,000
14
Prevalence of AML in US adults over 65 is higher than younger groups
15
5-year relative survival for all AML stages is 31.9%
16
AML represents 1.2% of all leukemia cases
17
Incidence in African Americans is 4.5 per 100,000 vs 4.0 in whites
18
Pediatric AML incidence is 0.9 per 100,000 children
19
AML cases in US men: 11,300 annually
20
AML cases in US women: 9,080 annually
21
Global AML mortality was 111,000 in 2020
22
AML incidence rose 3% annually from 2001-2019 in some regions
23
1.8% of cancer deaths in US are from AML
24
AML is rare under age 40
25
SEER data shows 10,550 deaths from AML in 2021
26
AML accounts for 0.9% of all new cancer cases and deaths
27
Incidence higher in Hispanics at 4.3 per 100,000
28
AML in adolescents/young adults: 1.1 per 100,000
29
80-90% of AML cases occur in adults over 60
30
AML smoking-attributable fraction is 18%
Interpretation
Incidence And Prevalence Interpretation
For the incidence and prevalence perspective, AML is a relatively rare but persistent disease, with about 20,380 new US cases in 2023 and a diagnosis incidence rate of 4.1 per 100,000 people per year, while its burden globally reaches roughly 147,000 new cases in 2020.
02 · Category
Risk Factors And Causes26 stats
01
Prior chemotherapy exposure increases AML risk 10-fold
02
Smoking doubles AML risk in heavy smokers
03
Radiation exposure (e.g., atomic bomb survivors) raises AML risk 10-50x
04
Down syndrome increases AML risk 10-20 times
05
Benzene exposure risk ratio for AML is 1.4-3.8
06
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) precede 30% of AML cases
07
Obesity associated with 20-40% increased AML risk
08
Family history increases risk 2-4 fold in relatives
09
TP53 mutations found in 30% of therapy-related AML
10
Male gender has 25% higher AML incidence than females
11
Fanconi anemia patients have 500-1000x AML risk
12
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) progresses to AML in 15-30%
13
Pesticide exposure OR=1.2-2.0 for AML
14
Age over 65 is strongest risk factor, RR>10
15
Genetic syndromes like Klinefelter increase risk 4x
16
Topoisomerase II inhibitors cause 25% of therapy-related AML
17
Alcohol consumption >45g/day increases risk by 22%
18
RUNX1 mutations in 10-15% familial AML cases
19
Hairy cell leukemia transformation to AML rare, <1%
20
Solvent exposure meta-analysis OR=1.3 for AML
21
CEBPA mutations in 10% de novo AML, hereditary form rare
22
Prior Hodgkin lymphoma treatment: 1-5% develop AML
23
GATA2 germline mutations cause 15% familial MDS/AML
24
Arsenic exposure in water linked to 1.5x AML risk
25
DOCK8 deficiency: 20% develop AML
26
Alkylating agents cause 50-70% therapy-related AML
Interpretation
Risk Factors And Causes Interpretation
For AML risk factors and causes, the standout trend is how certain exposures or conditions can dramatically multiply risk, including prior chemotherapy with a 10-fold increase and radiation exposure such as atomic bomb survivors reaching 10 to 50 times higher risk.
03 · Category
Survival Rates And Prognosis27 stats
01
5-year survival 10-20% over age 65
02
Favorable cytogenetics: 5-year OS 50-70%
03
Adverse risk: median OS 8-12 months
04
NPM1 mutated without FLT3-ITD: 5-year OS 60%
05
FLT3-ITD high allelic ratio: 5-year OS <20%
06
ELN 2022 favorable risk: 5-year survival 60%
07
Core binding factor AML: 5-year OS 70%
08
TP53 mutated: median OS 5 months
09
Post-HSCT relapse-free survival 50% at 3 years
10
Pediatric AML 5-year survival 70%
11
Secondary AML median OS 8 months
12
MRD negative post-induction: OS doubled
13
Age <60 favorable: 5-year OS 40-50%
14
Complex karyotype (>3 abnormalities): OS <10% at 5 years
15
Intermediate risk 5-year OS 30-40%
16
1-year survival overall 38%
17
Monosomal karyotype: 4% 5-year survival
18
IDH1/2 mutated better prognosis with inhibitors, OS +6 months
19
APL subtype 90% curable with ATRA+ATO
20
Elderly unfit median OS 3-5 months BSC
21
HSCT in CR1 improves 3-year OS 55% vs 35% chemo
22
RUNX1 mutated: median OS 12 months
23
Overall 5-year survival improved from 24% to 30% 2013-2019
24
t(8;21) favorable: 70% 5-year EFS
25
ASXL1 mutation worsens prognosis, HR=1.8
26
Relapsed AML median OS 4-6 months
27
MRD+ post-consolidation: relapse risk 50-80%
Interpretation
Survival Rates And Prognosis Interpretation
For Aml leukemia patients, survival outcomes in the Survival Rates And Prognosis category swing dramatically by risk profile, ranging from a poor 5-year survival of under 20% with high FLT3-ITD allelic ratio to about 60% 5-year survival with ELN 2022 favorable risk or NPM1 mutation without FLT3-ITD.
More related reading
04 · Category
Symptoms And Diagnosis28 stats
01
Fatigue is the most common symptom in 90% of AML patients
02
Anemia present at diagnosis in 85-90% of cases
03
Bone marrow blasts ≥20% defines AML diagnosis
04
Thrombocytopenia in 70-80% at presentation
05
Flow cytometry detects abnormal myeloid markers in 95% accuracy
06
Fever/infection in 50-60% due to neutropenia
07
Cytogenetic analysis prognostic in 90% of cases
08
Easy bruising/bleeding in 50% of patients
09
Leukocytosis >100,000 in 20% hyperleukocytosis cases
10
Bone pain reported in 25-40% of patients
11
PET/CT sensitivity for extramedullary disease 80%
12
Gum hypertrophy in monocytic AML (FAB M4/M5) 20-40%
13
Molecular testing for NPM1 in 30-35% favorable cases
14
Shortness of breath from anemia in 60%
15
Splenomegaly in 20-30% at diagnosis
16
Next-gen sequencing detects mutations in 90% AML
17
Weight loss/unintentional in 20%
18
Lymphadenopathy rare, <10%
19
HLA typing for transplant in 100% eligible patients
20
Skin involvement (leukemia cutis) in 10-15% M4/M5
21
Median WBC at diagnosis 15,000-100,000/uL
22
MRD assessment by flow in 70-80% sensitivity post-induction
23
Gingival bleeding common in thrombocytopenia
24
Hepatomegaly in 10-20%
25
FLT3-ITD mutation testing in all patients
26
Night sweats in 25%
27
Central nervous system involvement <5%
28
Complete remission defined as <5% blasts
Interpretation
Symptoms And Diagnosis Interpretation
In AML, symptoms show up heavily at diagnosis with fatigue reported in 90% of patients and anemia in 85–90%, while diagnosis hinges on identifying bone marrow blasts of 20% or more along with flow cytometry finding abnormal myeloid markers in 95% of cases.
05 · Category
Treatment And Outcomes26 stats
01
Induction chemotherapy CR rate 60-80% in young patients
02
7+3 regimen (cytarabine + daunorubicin) standard for fit patients
03
Venetoclax + HMA CR/CRi 67% in unfit elderly
04
Allogeneic HSCT relapse rate 30-50% at 2 years
05
Midostaurin improves OS in FLT3-mutated AML by 22%
06
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin OS benefit 15% in favorable risk
07
CPX-351 CR 48% vs 33% in secondary AML
08
Azacitidine median OS 10.4 months in unfit patients
09
Quizartinib PFS 8.5 months in FLT3-ITD relapsed
10
Intensive chemo mortality 1-5% induction
11
HMA + venetoclax OS 14.7 months unfit elderly
12
Auto-HSCT used rarely, <10% AML patients
13
Ivosidenib ORR 42% IDH1-mutated relapsed
14
Enasidenib ORR 40% IDH2-mutated relapsed
15
Glasdegib + LDAC OS 8.8 vs 4.5 months
16
CAR-T limited data, response in 50-70% refractory
17
Maintenance azacitidine post-HSCT reduces relapse 30%
18
CRp rate with HMA alone 20-30% unfit
19
Targeted therapy access improved outcomes 20% since 2017
20
Relapse occurs in 50-70% after first CR
21
Hypomethylating agents used in 40% newly diagnosed unfit
22
HSCT in first CR: 50-60% LFS favorable risk
23
Oral azacitidine maintenance PFS doubled
24
Gilteritinib ORR 52% FLT3 relapsed/refractory
25
Intensive therapy CR 70% under 60 years
26
Supportive care: platelet transfusion threshold 10,000/uL
Interpretation
Treatment And Outcomes Interpretation
Across treatment approaches in AML outcomes, remission rates and survival gains vary widely by regimen and patient fitness, from 60 to 80% induction CR in younger patients and 67% CR or CRi with venetoclax plus HMA in unfit elderly to notable molecular and drug effects like a 22% OS improvement with midostaurin for FLT3-mutated AML, while even with curative intent relapse after allogeneic HSCT remains 30 to 50% at 2 years.
report visual · Breakdown
AML in the US: How common it is
AML diagnosis is concentrated in older adults and represents a small share of all cancers, with a measurable mortality burden.
80%
AML comprises 80% of acute leukemias in adults
20%
DOCK8 deficiency: 20% develop AML
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Aml Leukemia Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aml-leukemia-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Aml Leukemia Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/aml-leukemia-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Aml Leukemia Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aml-leukemia-statistics.
Sources & references
9 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level