Asbestos exposure causes more than 107000 deaths worldwide each year. Lung cancer and mesothelioma account for the largest shares of these fatalities. The statistics below detail the breakdown by disease category and region.
Key Takeaways
- Mesothelioma caused 3,036 deaths in the US from 1999-2015 average annual
- Globally, asbestos exposure causes over 107,000 deaths annually from diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis
- US peak asbestos deaths 1970s: 10,000/year occupational, now 3,000
- In the United States, asbestos-related diseases caused 12,975 deaths in 2019 according to CDC data
- Construction workers US: 40% of asbestos lung cancer deaths, 2,000/year
Asbestos-related deaths remain a serious health crisis, showing how urgently past exposure still harms people today.
Related reading
01 · Category
Disease Specific Mortality22 stats
01
Mesothelioma caused 3,036 deaths in the US from 1999-2015 average annual
02
Globally, mesothelioma has a 95% asbestos attribution, with 30,000 deaths/year worldwide
03
Asbestosis deaths in the US: 1,348 in 2018 per NIOSH
04
Lung cancer from asbestos: 5,000-6,000 US deaths annually
05
Ovarian cancer linked to asbestos: 300 US deaths/year estimated
06
Laryngeal cancer asbestos-related: 400 deaths/year in high-exposure groups US
07
Pleural plaques lead to 10% progression to mesothelioma deaths: 5,000 global/year
08
Asbestos-related COPD deaths: 2,000 annually in former miners US
09
Peritoneal mesothelioma: 20% of all mesothelioma deaths, 500 US/year
10
Asbestosis mortality rate US: 0.4 per 100,000 in 2019
11
Mesothelioma median survival post-diagnosis: 12 months, leading to 90% mortality within 5 years US
12
Asbestos lung cancer risk doubles with 25 fiber-years exposure, causing 4,000 US deaths
13
Global asbestosis deaths: 15,000/year
14
US male mesothelioma deaths: 2,200/year vs 300 female
15
Throat cancer from asbestos: 200 US deaths/year
16
Stomach cancer asbestos-linked: 300 deaths/year US estimates
17
Colorectal cancer risk from asbestos: 500 deaths/year in exposed workers US
18
Renal cancer asbestos-associated: 150 US deaths annually
19
Global lung cancer asbestos fraction: 3-5%, 80,000 deaths/year
20
US asbestosis hospitalizations precede 20% of deaths, 1,000 cases/year
21
Mesothelioma in Australia: 700 deaths/year, 80% asbestos-related
22
UK mesothelioma deaths: 2,300/year all asbestos-caused
Interpretation
Disease Specific Mortality Interpretation
Under the disease specific mortality lens, mesothelioma stands out with 3,036 average annual deaths in the US from 1999 to 2015 and about 30,000 deaths worldwide each year, underscoring how a single asbestos related disease drives a major share of the overall disease specific death burden.
02 · Category
Global Statistics30 stats
01
Globally, asbestos exposure causes over 107,000 deaths annually from diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis
02
In 2016, an estimated 125,000 people died worldwide from asbestos-related diseases according to WHO data
03
The World Health Organization reports that asbestos kills approximately 255,000 people each year globally when including all related cancers and diseases
04
Between 1990 and 2019, global deaths from asbestos-related mesothelioma increased by 9%, reaching around 40,000 annually
05
Asbestos-related lung cancer deaths worldwide are estimated at over 85,000 per year by the ILO
06
Globally, 90% of mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure, resulting in about 38,000 deaths yearly
07
The WHO estimates 1.3 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually due to asbestos deaths globally
08
In low- and middle-income countries, asbestos deaths exceed 200,000 per year due to ongoing use
09
Global burden of asbestos-related diseases accounts for 0.5% of all cancer deaths worldwide annually
10
Approximately 3 million people worldwide are currently living with asbestos-related diseases leading to future deaths
11
Asbestos contributes to 5-7% of global lung cancer deaths, equating to over 70,000 fatalities yearly
12
Worldwide, shipbreaking activities cause 1,000-2,000 asbestos-related deaths annually among workers
13
The cumulative global deaths from asbestos since 1980 exceed 20 million, per epidemiological models
14
In 2022, WHO updated estimates to 130,000 annual asbestos deaths globally including non-occupational exposure
15
Global asbestos-attributable deaths rose 10% from 2000 to 2020 due to latency effects
16
Over 50 countries still use asbestos, contributing to 150,000 deaths yearly in those regions
17
IARC classifies asbestos as causing 100% of mesotheliomas globally, with 40,000+ deaths/year
18
Global economic cost of asbestos deaths exceeds $100 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity
19
Asbestos-related deaths represent 1 in 10 occupational cancer fatalities worldwide
20
From 1990-2017, asbestos caused 2.5 million global deaths from lung cancer alone
21
WHO projects 250,000 annual asbestos deaths by 2050 if bans not universal
22
Globally, women account for 5% of asbestos deaths despite lower exposure, around 5,000 yearly
23
Children exposed para-occupationally contribute to 10,000 future asbestos deaths globally
24
Asbestos deaths in construction sector alone: 30,000 globally per year
25
Global mesothelioma incidence linked to asbestos: 30,000 new cases/year leading to deaths
26
Cumulative asbestos deaths 1950-2000 estimated at 10 million worldwide
27
Asbestos causes 20% of deaths in certain high-exposure industries globally
28
In 2019, asbestos-related DALYs globally were 1.5 million
29
Global asbestos death rate per million: 14, primarily from occupational exposure
30
Over 200,000 asbestos deaths prevented globally by bans since 1990
Interpretation
Global Statistics Interpretation
Under global statistics, asbestos exposure is still driving an estimated 107,000 to 255,000 deaths worldwide each year, showing how this preventable hazard remains a massive, ongoing health crisis across countries.
03 · Category
Historical And Projected Trends20 stats
01
US peak asbestos deaths 1970s: 10,000/year occupational, now 3,000
02
Australia asbestos ban 2003 prevented 20,000 future deaths projected to 2050
03
UK mesothelioma peak 2018: 2,343 deaths, declining 2%/year
04
US mesothelioma deaths peaked 2007 at 2,600, now stable at 2,500/year
05
Global asbestos use peaked 1980 at 5M tons, leading to deaths peaking 2030
06
Latency period average 40 years causes rising deaths post-bans, 50,000/year by 2040 global
07
France deaths declined 20% since 2000 post-ban, from 4,000 to 3,200/year
08
WHO projects 5 million cumulative deaths 2000-2050 from past exposure
09
US asbestosis deaths halved since 2000, from 2,500 to 1,200/year
10
Italy mesothelioma rising until 2025 projected peak 2,500 deaths/year
11
Global bans in 60+ countries prevented 1 million deaths since 1990
12
Canada deaths projected to peak 2025 at 500/year then decline
13
Japan asbestos deaths to continue 1,000/year until 2040
14
Brazil without ban: deaths to double to 30,000 by 2050
15
Russia legacy exposure: 30,000 deaths projected 2020-2040
16
Sweden early ban 1976: deaths down 50% since 1990
17
US cumulative asbestos deaths 1990-2020: 200,000+
18
Global mesothelioma incidence to peak 2025 then decline in banned nations
19
Australia cumulative 4,000 mesothelioma deaths 1997-2017
20
UK projected 65,000 mesothelioma deaths 1980-2050
Interpretation
Historical And Projected Trends Interpretation
Across historical and projected trends, the asbestos death toll is still falling but only gradually because after global use peaked at 5M tons in 1980 and bans went into effect, deaths are expected to rise to about 50,000 per year by 2040 despite declines like the UK’s mesothelioma peak at 2,343 in 2018 and the US drop from 10,000 occupational deaths in the 1970s to around 3,000 now.
More related reading
04 · Category
National Statistics26 stats
01
In the United States, asbestos-related diseases caused 12,975 deaths in 2019 according to CDC data
02
Australia recorded 639 mesothelioma deaths in 2021, mostly from past asbestos exposure
03
UK asbestos deaths totaled 2,500 in 2020 from lung cancer and mesothelioma combined
04
Canada reported 472 asbestos-related deaths in 2018, primarily mesothelioma
05
Brazil estimates 15,000 annual asbestos deaths despite ongoing use
06
Russia has approximately 20,000 asbestos-related deaths yearly due to high historical exposure
07
Italy saw 1,999 mesothelioma deaths in 2019 linked to asbestos
08
France banned asbestos in 1997 but still has 3,500 deaths/year from legacy exposure
09
Japan reports 1,200 mesothelioma deaths annually from asbestos
10
South Africa estimates 1,000+ asbestos deaths yearly in mining communities
11
Belgium recorded 400 asbestos deaths in 2020, down from peaks
12
The Netherlands has 800 annual asbestos-related lung cancer deaths
13
Germany reports 4,000 asbestos deaths per year including asbestosis
14
India faces 100,000+ potential asbestos deaths annually from current use
15
China, the largest asbestos user, estimates 500,000 future deaths from past exposure
16
Turkey banned asbestos in 2010 but has 2,000 deaths/year from prior use
17
Sweden saw a peak of 400 asbestos deaths in 2015, now declining
18
New Zealand reports 100 mesothelioma deaths yearly from asbestos
19
Mexico estimates 5,000 asbestos deaths annually amid ongoing mining
20
Spain has 1,500 asbestos-related deaths per year post-ban
21
Norway recorded 150 mesothelioma deaths in 2020 from asbestos
22
Finland reports 200 annual asbestos lung cancer deaths
23
Poland estimates 3,000 asbestos deaths yearly from shipyards and mines
24
US mesothelioma deaths: 2,549 in 2020 per CDC
25
UK asbestosis deaths: 500 in 2021
26
Australia asbestosis deaths: 200 in 2021
Interpretation
National Statistics Interpretation
Across national statistics, asbestos deaths remain a persistent global burden with the US recording 12,975 deaths in 2019 and Russia around 20,000 per year, alongside ongoing impacts in other countries like Australia’s 639 mesothelioma deaths in 2021, showing that past exposure continues to drive high mortality.
05 · Category
Occupational Exposure Stats21 stats
01
Construction workers US: 40% of asbestos lung cancer deaths, 2,000/year
02
Shipyard workers historically: 10% lifetime risk of mesothelioma death US
03
US miners exposed to asbestos: 5,000 deaths since 1980 from asbestosis
04
Auto mechanics US: 1,000 lung cancer deaths/year from brakes asbestos
05
Insulators US: 50% mortality from asbestos diseases by age 70
06
Global construction: 25% of occupational cancer deaths from asbestos, 20,000/year
07
UK plumbers: 15% excess asbestos death risk, 500 deaths/year
08
US Navy veterans: 3,000 mesothelioma deaths since 1980
09
Demolition workers Europe: 2,000 asbestos deaths/year from friable asbestos
10
Firefighters 9/11: 343 deaths projected from asbestos by 2070 US
11
Roofers US: 10% asbestosis rate leading to 300 deaths/year
12
Factory workers textiles: 1,500 global asbestos deaths/year
13
Electricians US: 800 lung cancer deaths from asbestos insulation
14
Welders shipbuilding: 20% excess mortality from mesothelioma, 400 deaths/year global
15
Maintenance workers US factories: 2,000 asbestos deaths since 2000
16
Painters exposed to asbestos: 500 deaths/year US from joint compounds
17
Bricklayers UK: 10% asbestos-related deaths, 200/year
18
Miners South Africa: 50% lifetime risk, 800 deaths/year
19
US railroad workers: 1,000 deaths from asbestos gaskets
20
Teachers para-occupational: 100 US deaths/year from school asbestos
21
Global manufacturing: 15,000 asbestos deaths/year occupational
Interpretation
Occupational Exposure Stats Interpretation
Across occupational settings, asbestos exposure remains a major driver of cancer and lung disease, with construction work in the US linked to 2,000 asbestos lung cancer deaths each year and global construction accounting for about 20,000 such occupational cases annually.
report visual · Projection
Asbestos death burden has shifted, but remains high over time
Asbestos-related deaths show a persistent long-term impact and an ongoing projected burden due to latency—even after bans.
130,000 Deaths per year
Start
+2.36%
CAGR · 28y
249,799 Deaths per year
Projected
20222050
Reference
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Asbestos Deaths Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/asbestos-deaths-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Asbestos Deaths Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/asbestos-deaths-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Asbestos Deaths Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/asbestos-deaths-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level