Imagine a disease that struck down one in every six people on the planet last year, as cancer did in 2022, its global reach and devastating toll laid bare in a staggering collection of statistics.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases worldwide, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.
- Globally, breast cancer accounted for 2.3 million new cases in 2022, making it the most common cancer worldwide.
- In 2022, lung cancer was the second most common cancer globally with 2.5 million new cases.
- In 2022, there were 9.7 million cancer deaths worldwide.
- Lung cancer caused 1.8 million deaths globally in 2022.
- Colorectal cancer was responsible for 900,000 deaths worldwide in 2022.
- Tobacco use causes 25% of all cancer deaths globally.
- Breast cancer represents 11.6% of all cancer cases worldwide in 2022.
- Lung cancer accounts for 12.4% of global cancer incidence in 2022.
- Globally, 30% of cancers are attributed to infectious agents.
- Tobacco smoking causes 22% of cancer deaths worldwide.
- Alcohol consumption contributes to 5.6% of all cancer burden globally.
- 50% of cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes worldwide.
- HPV vaccination could prevent 90% of cervical cancers globally if coverage reaches 90%.
- Tobacco control measures have reduced smoking prevalence by 25% in some countries.
Cancer is a leading global killer, with cases projected to rise significantly by 2040.
Common Cancer Types
- Tobacco use causes 25% of all cancer deaths globally.
- Breast cancer represents 11.6% of all cancer cases worldwide in 2022.
- Lung cancer accounts for 12.4% of global cancer incidence in 2022.
- Colorectum is the third most common cancer site globally with 9.6% of cases.
- Prostate cancer comprises 7.3% of all new cases worldwide in 2022.
- Stomach cancer is the fifth most common globally, with 4.8% of cases.
- Liver cancer represents 4.3% of global cancer cases in 2022.
- Cervical cancer accounts for 2.1% of all cancers worldwide.
- Oesophagus cancer is 2.2% of global incidence in 2022.
- Thyroid cancer makes up 3% of all cancer cases globally.
- Bladder cancer is 3.1% of worldwide cancer incidence.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for 2.7% of global cases.
- Leukemia represents 2.4% of all cancers worldwide.
- Pancreas cancer is 2.6% of global new cases in 2022.
- Lip and oral cavity cancers total 2% of cases globally.
- Brain and nervous system cancers account for 1.6% worldwide.
- Kidney cancer represents 2.2% of all cancers in 2022.
- Corpus uteri cancer is 2.1% of global female cases.
- Melanoma of skin accounts for 1.7% of cancers worldwide.
- Larynx cancer is 1% of global incidence in 2022.
- Gallbladder cancer comprises 0.8% of all cases globally.
- Multiple myeloma is 0.9% of worldwide cancers.
- In men, lung cancer is the most common in 102 countries.
- Prostate cancer is most common in men in 112 countries.
- Liver cancer dominates in 15 countries globally.
- In women, breast cancer is most common in 159 countries.
- Cervical cancer is leading in women in 23 countries.
- Corpus uteri most common in 17 countries for women.
Common Cancer Types Interpretation
While our collective fight against cancer is a sprawling global map of different battles, it's sobering to see that a single, avoidable vice—tobacco—claims a quarter of all the territory lost.
Global Incidence
- In 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases worldwide, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.
- Globally, breast cancer accounted for 2.3 million new cases in 2022, making it the most common cancer worldwide.
- In 2022, lung cancer was the second most common cancer globally with 2.5 million new cases.
- Colorectal cancer incidence reached 1.9 million new cases worldwide in 2022.
- Prostate cancer had 1.5 million new cases globally in 2022.
- In 2020, the global cancer incidence rate was 190 per 100,000 for both sexes combined.
- From 2010 to 2020, new cancer cases worldwide increased by 25% to 20.8 million.
- In low- and middle-income countries, cancer incidence is rising faster than in high-income countries.
- By 2040, global new cancer cases are projected to increase to 35 million annually.
- In 2022, Asia accounted for 49.5% of all new cancer cases worldwide.
- Europe had 22.5% of global new cancer cases in 2022, totaling about 4.5 million.
- The Americas contributed 14.5% of new cancer cases globally in 2022.
- Africa saw 800,000 new cancer cases in 2022, representing 4% of the global total.
- Oceania had the highest age-standardized incidence rate at 202 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Women worldwide had 9.8 million new cancer cases in 2022, slightly less than men at 10.2 million.
- The global age-standardized incidence rate for all cancers in 2022 was 192 per 100,000.
- Cervical cancer incidence was highest in sub-Saharan Africa at 33.7 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Liver cancer new cases totaled 866,000 globally in 2022.
- Stomach cancer accounted for 968,000 new cases worldwide in 2022.
- In 2022, thyroid cancer had 586,000 new cases globally.
- Global cancer prevalence (5-year) reached 53.5 million cases in 2022.
- Childhood cancer incidence worldwide is about 400,000 new cases per year under age 19.
- In 2022, melanoma of skin had 331,000 new cases globally.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence was 545,000 new cases in 2022 worldwide.
- Leukemia new cases totaled 475,000 globally in 2022.
- Global pancreatic cancer incidence was 510,000 new cases in 2022.
- Oesophageal cancer had 501,000 new cases worldwide in 2022.
- Bladder cancer incidence reached 614,000 new cases in 2022 globally.
- Kidney cancer new cases were 442,000 worldwide in 2022.
- Corpus uteri cancer had 420,000 new cases in women globally in 2022.
Global Incidence Interpretation
Cancer is humanity's stealthy siege, building to 35 million annual fronts by 2040, with its grim geography revealing a map of inequality where the burden is shifting fastest onto those least equipped to fight it.
Mortality Rates
- In 2022, there were 9.7 million cancer deaths worldwide.
- Lung cancer caused 1.8 million deaths globally in 2022.
- Colorectal cancer was responsible for 900,000 deaths worldwide in 2022.
- Liver cancer led to 736,000 deaths in 2022 globally.
- Breast cancer deaths totaled 670,000 worldwide in 2022.
- Global age-standardized mortality rate for all cancers in 2022 was 100 per 100,000.
- Stomach cancer caused 668,000 deaths globally in 2022.
- Prostate cancer deaths were 394,000 in 2022 worldwide.
- Oesophageal cancer mortality reached 415,000 deaths in 2022.
- Pancreatic cancer was the cause of 513,000 deaths globally in 2022.
- In low-HDI countries, cancer mortality rates are 1.5 times higher than incidence rates.
- Globally, 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
- From 2000 to 2020, cancer mortality in high-income countries decreased by 20%.
- In 2022, Asia had 56% of global cancer deaths, totaling about 5.4 million.
- Africa cancer deaths reached 713,000 in 2022, with high rates in Eastern Africa.
- Cervical cancer caused 350,000 deaths worldwide in 2022, mostly in LMICs.
- The global 5-year survival rate for all cancers averages around 50%.
- Lung cancer has a global 5-year survival rate of about 19%.
- Breast cancer global 5-year survival is approximately 66%.
- In 2022, leukemia caused 309,000 deaths globally.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma deaths totaled 338,000 worldwide in 2022.
- Brain and CNS cancer mortality was 252,000 in 2022 globally.
- Global cancer mortality for women was 4.4 million in 2022.
- Men accounted for 5.3 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2022.
- Oral cancer deaths reached 380,000 in 2022 globally.
- Laryngeal cancer caused 130,000 deaths worldwide in 2022.
- Gallbladder cancer mortality was 210,000 in 2022.
- Multiple myeloma deaths totaled 178,000 globally in 2022.
- The age-standardized mortality rate in Eastern Africa was 141 per 100,000 in 2022.
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, responsible for 1 in 6 deaths.
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women in 125 countries.
- Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three cancers combined worldwide.
- Lung cancer had 1.80 million deaths in 2020 globally.
- In 2022, 350,000 women died from cervical cancer worldwide.
Mortality Rates Interpretation
The grim arithmetic of these statistics reveals a world where our most common and deadly cancers—lung, colorectal, and breast—are not only winning a devastating war of attrition but are doing so with a cruel geographic bias, disproportionately claiming lives in less-resourced nations that can least afford it.
Prevention
- 50% of cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes worldwide.
- HPV vaccination could prevent 90% of cervical cancers globally if coverage reaches 90%.
- Tobacco control measures have reduced smoking prevalence by 25% in some countries.
- Screening detects 50-90% of breast cancers at early stage worldwide.
- Colorectal cancer screening reduces mortality by 20-30% in screened populations.
- Hepatitis B vaccination prevents 75% of liver cancer cases attributable to HBV.
- Global cervical cancer elimination strategy aims for 90-70-90 targets by 2030.
- Increasing fruit/veg intake by 200g/day reduces cancer risk by 10%.
- Physical activity reduces colon cancer risk by 24% and breast by 12%.
- Limiting alcohol to <10g/day reduces overall cancer risk by 10%.
- WHO aims to reduce global alcohol consumption by 10% by 2025.
- Sunscreen use reduces melanoma risk by 50% with regular application.
- Ban on asbestos has prevented 100,000+ deaths in implemented countries.
- Tobacco taxes increase prices by 10% reduce consumption by 4% in LMICs.
- Early detection improves 5-year survival from 20% to 90% for many cancers.
- Global coverage of HPV vaccine is 15% for girls, needs to reach 90%.
- Mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality by 20-40%.
- Pap smear screening prevents 80% of cervical cancer deaths.
- Fecal occult blood test detects 92% of colorectal cancers early.
- 40% of cancers linked to modifiable risk factors like diet and exercise.
- National cancer control plans exist in 60% of WHO member states.
- Palliative care access reaches only 14% of cancer patients needing it globally.
Prevention Interpretation
Astonishingly, humanity holds a potent, if underused, medicine cabinet against cancer, stocked with everything from vaccines and vegetables to sunscreen and sensible policies, proving that our greatest weapon in this fight is often simply our own informed will.
Risk Factors
- Globally, 30% of cancers are attributed to infectious agents.
- Tobacco smoking causes 22% of cancer deaths worldwide.
- Alcohol consumption contributes to 5.6% of all cancer burden globally.
- Overweight and obesity are linked to 4-8% of all cancers worldwide.
- Physical inactivity accounts for 5% of breast and colon cancers globally.
- HPV infection causes nearly all cervical cancers and 70% of oropharyngeal cancers.
- Hepatitis B and C viruses cause 80% of primary liver cancers worldwide.
- 13 cancer types are causally linked to alcohol consumption globally.
- Air pollution causes 4.2% of lung cancer deaths worldwide.
- UV radiation exposure leads to 90-95% of melanomas globally.
- Processed meat consumption increases colorectal cancer risk by 18% per 50g daily.
- Red meat intake raises colorectal cancer risk by 17% per 100g daily worldwide.
- Low fruit and vegetable intake contributes to 14% of digestive cancer deaths.
- Asbestos exposure causes 125,000 lung cancer deaths annually globally.
- Ionizing radiation from medical sources causes 10% of cancers worldwide.
- Shift work disrupting circadian rhythms linked to 3-5% of breast cancers.
- Arsenic in drinking water causes lung, bladder, skin cancers in high-exposure areas.
- Radon gas is second leading cause of lung cancer, 3-14% of cases globally.
- Reproductive factors like late first pregnancy increase breast cancer risk by 20%.
- Hormone replacement therapy raises breast cancer risk by 26% globally.
- 1 in 6 cancers worldwide is due to an infectious agent.
- Helicobacter pylori infection causes 89% of non-cardia gastric cancers.
- Tobacco causes 70% of lung cancers and 30% of all cancers globally.
Risk Factors Interpretation
A surprisingly large portion of humanity's global cancer burden reads like a grim list of entirely preventable self-inflicted wounds and preventable infections, making a strong case that our modern lifestyles and environments are, in many ways, waging a slow-motion war against our own cells.
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