In the United States, about 15,950 children and adolescents ages 0-19 were diagnosed with cancer. Leukemia accounts for 28% of pediatric cancers and brain and CNS tumors make up 26%. The sections ahead show how incidence and survival vary by cancer type, age, and where a child lives.
Key Takeaways
- Leukemia represents 28% of all pediatric cancers in the U.S., most common type.
- In the United States, about 15,950 children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years) were diagnosed with cancer in 2022.
- Pediatric cancer mortality in U.S. declined 60% since 1970, from 6.5 to 2.3 per 100,000.
- Genetic syndromes like Down syndrome increase leukemia risk 10-20 fold.
- 5-year survival for all pediatric cancers in U.S. is 85% for 2014-2020 diagnoses.
Pediatric cancer remains rare but serious, so early detection and timely treatment are crucial for better outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cancer Types and Distribution25 stats
01
Leukemia represents 28% of all pediatric cancers in the U.S., most common type.
02
Brain and CNS tumors account for 26% of childhood cancers in the U.S., second most common.
03
Neuroblastoma comprises 6% of pediatric cancers, primarily affecting children under 5.
04
Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) makes up 5% of childhood cancers, 500-600 U.S. cases/year.
05
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 3% of pediatric cancers, more common in adolescents.
06
Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for 3% of childhood cancers, peak at 15-19 years.
07
Retinoblastoma is 3% of cases, bilateral in 30%.
08
Rhabdomyosarcoma represents 3% of pediatric malignancies, 350 U.S. cases/year.
09
Bone cancers (osteosarcoma, Ewing) are 4-5% of childhood cancers.
10
Germ cell tumors account for 3% of pediatric cancers, often gonadal.
11
Liver cancers (hepatoblastoma) 1-2% of cases, mainly under 5 years.
12
ALL is 75% of pediatric leukemias, peak age 2-5 years.
13
AML is 20% of childhood leukemias, poorer prognosis.
14
Medulloblastoma is 20% of pediatric brain tumors.
15
Astrocytoma 15% of childhood CNS tumors.
16
Ependymoma 5-10% of pediatric brain tumors.
17
Thyroid cancer in adolescents is 10% of pediatric endocrine cancers.
18
Melanoma is increasingly common in adolescents, 1-2% of pediatric cancers.
19
Langerhans cell histiocytosis affects 1 in 200,000 children yearly, debated as cancer.
20
Burkitt lymphoma is aggressive NHL subtype, 30-40% of pediatric NHL in Africa.
21
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma 10-15% of pediatric NHL.
22
Hepatoblastoma 60% of pediatric liver cancers, under 5 years.
23
Pleuropulmonary blastoma rare, 25 cases/year worldwide.
24
Desmoplastic small round cell tumor very rare, <200 cases total.
25
Infantile fibrosarcoma 1% of pediatric sarcomas.
Interpretation
Cancer Types and Distribution Interpretation
In the sobering landscape of childhood cancer, we see a map where leukemia and brain tumors dominate the terrain, yet it is the rarer, often more aggressive, territories—like the neuroblastoma strongholds in the under-fives and the lymphoma peaks in adolescence—that demand we fight on every front, no matter how small the incidence or how young the patient.
02 · Category
Incidence and Prevalence30 stats
01
In the United States, about 15,950 children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years) were diagnosed with cancer in 2022.
02
Globally, childhood cancer incidence is estimated at 397,000 new cases annually for children aged 0-19 years as of 2020.
03
In Europe, the annual incidence rate of pediatric cancer is approximately 35 per million children under 15 years.
04
Among U.S. children aged 0-14 years, the age-adjusted incidence rate of all cancers combined was 17.9 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
05
Pediatric cancer accounts for less than 1% of all new cancer cases in the U.S., but represents 15-20% of cancer mortality in children.
06
In low- and middle-income countries, 90% of the 400,000 annual childhood cancer cases occur, with incidence rates of 100-140 per million.
07
The incidence of pediatric brain and other CNS cancers in the U.S. is 5.7 per 100,000 children aged 0-19.
08
From 2001-2020, the overall pediatric cancer incidence rate in the U.S. increased by 0.5% per year on average.
09
In Australia, around 600 children under 15 are diagnosed with cancer each year, rate of 16 per 100,000.
10
Hispanic children in the U.S. have a 20% higher incidence rate of pediatric cancer compared to non-Hispanic whites.
11
The incidence rate of leukemia in children aged 0-14 in the U.S. was 4.8 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
12
In the UK, there are about 1,900 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed annually in children under 15.
13
Pediatric cancer prevalence in the U.S. (5-year) is approximately 470,000 survivors alive as of 2022.
14
In India, estimated 50,000 new pediatric cancer cases per year, with incidence rate around 40-50 per million.
15
Black children in the U.S. have a pediatric cancer incidence rate of 15.5 per 100,000 vs. 17.2 for whites.
16
The incidence of neuroblastoma in U.S. children under 5 years is 10.2 per million.
17
In Canada, 1,050 children and teens are diagnosed with cancer yearly, rate 18.5 per 100,000.
18
Global pediatric cancer incidence for ages 0-14 is 140 per million children per year.
19
In Japan, pediatric cancer incidence rate is 12.5 per 100,000 for under 15 years.
20
U.S. adolescents (15-19) have cancer incidence of 21.7 per 100,000, higher than younger children.
21
In Brazil, around 8,500 new pediatric cancer cases annually for 0-19 years.
22
Incidence of Wilms tumor in U.S. children 0-14 is 7.8 per million.
23
In South Africa, pediatric cancer incidence is 100 per million, lower due to underdiagnosis.
24
U.S. infant cancer incidence (under 1 year) is 23.4 per 100,000.
25
In Germany, 1,800 children under 15 diagnosed yearly, rate 17 per 100,000.
26
Global trend shows 1-3% annual increase in childhood cancer incidence since 1980.
27
In France, pediatric cancer incidence rate is 16.5 per 100,000 under 15.
28
Asian/Pacific Islander U.S. children have lowest pediatric cancer incidence at 13.4 per 100,000.
29
In Mexico, 5,000 new cases yearly in children 0-18.
30
Incidence of retinoblastoma worldwide is 3-4% of all childhood cancers, about 8,000 cases/year.
Interpretation
Incidence and Prevalence Interpretation
To call pediatric cancer a "rare" disease is a statistical farce that obscures a brutal truth: while it represents less than 1% of U.S. cancer cases, it is a leading cause of death in children, and its true global burden, likely undercounted, falls overwhelmingly on the world's most vulnerable young populations.
03 · Category
Mortality and Trends21 stats
01
Pediatric cancer mortality in U.S. declined 60% since 1970, from 6.5 to 2.3 per 100,000.
02
Globally, 96,000 children died from cancer in 2020, 90% in LMICs.
03
Leukemia caused 25% of pediatric cancer deaths in U.S. 2016-2020.
04
Brain tumors responsible for 27% of childhood cancer mortality.
05
U.S. pediatric cancer death rate for ages 0-14 fell from 4.9 in 2001 to 2.2 per 100,000 in 2020.
06
In 2022, estimated 1,650 cancer deaths in U.S. children 0-19 years.
07
Mortality from neuroblastoma declined 3.7% annually 2001-2020.
08
Wilms tumor mortality rate 0.4 per million children 0-14.
09
Hodgkin lymphoma deaths rare, 0.2 per million.
10
Bone cancer mortality 0.6 per 100,000 children.
11
Global childhood cancer mortality expected to rise 86% by 2050 without intervention.
12
In UK, 250 children die from cancer yearly.
13
U.S. infant cancer mortality 3.3 per 100,000.
14
AML mortality declined 2.1% per year 2011-2020.
15
CNS tumor mortality highest in ages 1-4 years.
16
In Africa, 80% of pediatric cancer patients die due to lack of treatment.
17
Adolescent cancer mortality 2.5 per 100,000, higher than younger.
18
Late mortality in survivors 10x higher than general population.
19
Rhabdomyosarcoma mortality 1.2 per million.
20
Retinoblastoma mortality low in HICs but 40% in Africa.
21
Overall U.S. pediatric cancer mortality trends down 1.7% annually since 2000.
Interpretation
Mortality and Trends Interpretation
While relentless progress here has cut the U.S. pediatric cancer death rate by more than half since 1970, the global picture is a grim and widening chasm where geography, not biology, remains the most fatal diagnosis.
More related reading
04 · Category
Risk Factors and Demographics21 stats
01
Genetic syndromes like Down syndrome increase leukemia risk 10-20 fold.
02
Ionizing radiation exposure increases leukemia risk by 2x if prenatal.
03
White children have highest incidence of ALL, 35 per million.
04
Boys have 15-20% higher risk of pediatric cancer overall.
05
Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases neuroblastoma risk 1.5-2 fold.
06
Hispanic ethnicity linked to 30% higher ALL risk.
07
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome increases Wilms tumor risk 7-10%.
08
Family history doubles retinoblastoma risk if heritable.
09
Li-Fraumeni syndrome raises lifetime cancer risk to 90%.
10
Twins have 2-3x higher concordance for leukemia.
11
Pesticide exposure in utero increases leukemia risk 2-4 fold.
12
Black children lower incidence but higher mortality for some cancers.
13
Older maternal age (>40) linked to 2x Down syndrome leukemia risk.
14
EBV infection risk for Burkitt lymphoma in endemic areas.
15
Congenital anomalies increase cancer risk 2-3x.
16
Immunosuppression post-transplant raises NHL risk 100x.
17
Rural living associated with higher leukemia incidence.
18
HIV increases pediatric cancer risk, esp. Kaposi sarcoma.
19
Male predominance in bone sarcomas (1.5:1 ratio).
20
Neonatal jaundice not linked, but low birthweight increases neuroblastoma 1.5x.
21
No strong infectious cause, but delayed infections may protect against ALL.
Interpretation
Risk Factors and Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a chilling mosaic where a child's geography, genetics, and even their mother's age can conspire to turn the basic lottery of cell division into a tragic game of chance.
05 · Category
Survival Rates and Prognosis25 stats
01
5-year survival for all pediatric cancers in U.S. is 85% for 2014-2020 diagnoses.
02
Childhood ALL 5-year survival rate is 90-95% in high-income countries.
03
Pediatric AML 5-year survival improved to 70% from 20% in 1970s.
04
Brain tumor 5-year survival in children is 74%, varies by type.
05
Neuroblastoma stage 1: 99% 5-year survival; stage 4: 50%.
06
Wilms tumor 5-year survival 90% overall, 100% for favorable histology stage I.
07
Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survival 95% in children.
08
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survival 85-90%.
09
Osteosarcoma 5-year survival 70% for localized, 25% metastatic.
10
Ewing sarcoma 5-year survival 70-80% localized.
11
Retinoblastoma 5-year survival 99% in U.S., 60% in low-income countries.
12
Rhabdomyosarcoma 5-year survival 65% overall.
13
Medulloblastoma 5-year survival 70-80% with current therapy.
14
Hepatoblastoma 5-year survival 70% localized, 40% metastatic.
15
10-year survival for childhood cancer survivors is 80-85%.
16
ALL high-risk 5-year survival 80-85%, standard risk 98%.
17
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) 5-year survival <1%.
18
Adrenocortical carcinoma in children 5-year survival 55%.
19
Bilateral retinoblastoma survival 95% with eye preservation in 50%.
20
Infant ALL 5-year survival 50-60%, poorer than older children.
21
Ependymoma 5-year survival 70-85% after total resection.
22
Embryonal tumors 5-year survival 65% overall.
23
20-year survival for 1970s pediatric cancer cohort was 75%, now 90%.
24
Black children have 20% lower 5-year survival for ALL compared to whites.
25
In LMICs, overall pediatric cancer survival is 20-30% vs. 80% in HICs.
Interpretation
Survival Rates and Prognosis Interpretation
While we've turned many pediatric cancers from death sentences into manageable conditions, our victories remain unevenly distributed, leaving some children behind based on their cancer type, stage, race, or simply their country of birth.
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
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Pediatric Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pediatric-cancer-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Pediatric Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pediatric-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Pediatric Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pediatric-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
33 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level