Read press release Thyroid cancer Key Facts
Key messages on incidence, survival, mortality, risk factors (causes) and a summary table of the statistics for thyroid cancer are given here.
More comprehensive information and statistics for thyroid cancer is here: incidence, survival, mortality.
- Download these Key Facts Thyroid cancer Key Facts
The latest statistics available for thyroid cancer are; incidence 2010, mortality 2010, and survival 1996-1999. Source years are specified in the statistics table. Find out why these are the latest statistics available.
- In the UK in 2010 around 2,700 people were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, that’s more than 7 every day.
- Thyroid cancer is more common in women than men. Around two and a half times as many women are diagnosed as men.
- In 2010, around 1,900 women and 700 men in the UK were diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
- Almost half of all cases of thyroid cancer in the UK are diagnosed in people aged under 50.
- Thyroid cancer incidence rates in women have quadrupled in the last 40 years, but remain low at around 6 per 100,000 women.
- In the countries of the European Union (EU-27) around 33,600 people were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2008.
- Worldwide an estimated 213,000 people were diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2008.
Read more in-depth thyroid cancer incidence statistics.
section reviewed 14/01/13
section updated 14/01/13
- Survival rates for thyroid cancer are increasing. In the 1970s half of people diagnosed survived the disease for at least five years. Now around three-quarters survive.
- Survival rates for people diagnosed with thyroid cancer are higher for younger patients. More than 95% of those aged under 40 are likely to survive the disease for at least five years.
Read more in-depth thyroid cancer survival statistics.
section reviewed 22/02/13
section updated 10/07/12
- In 2010, around 350 people in the UK died from thyroid cancer.
- In the UK in 2010 around 210 women and 130 men died from thyroid cancer.
- Thyroid cancer mortality rates in women in the UK have more than halved in the last 40 years.
Read more in-depth thyroid cancer mortality statistics.
section reviewed 22/02/13
section updated 10/07/12
- Risk of thyroid cancer is two to three times higher in women than in men.
- Exposure to radiation, especially in childhood, increases the risk of thyroid cancer.
- People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
- A family history increases the risk of thyroid cancer, especially medullary cancers.
- People with some benign thyroid conditions have a higher risk of thyroid cancer.
section reviewed 22/02/13
section updated 10/07/12
| THYROID CANCER STATISTICS | Males | Females | Persons | Country | Year3 |
| Number of new cases per year | 748 | 1,906 | 2,654 | UK | 2010 |
| Incidence rate per 100,000 population1 | 2.2 | 5.6 | 3.9 | ||
| Number of deaths per year | 133 | 213 | 346 | UK | 2010 |
| Mortality rate per 100,000 population1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||
| One-year survival rate2 | 83.4% | 73.5% | - | England & Wales | 1996-1999 |
| Five-year survival rate2 | 74.2% | 78.9% | - |
1. European age-standardised 2. Adults diagnosed 3. Latest statistics available
More detailed thyroid cancer statistics can be found using these links: incidence, survival and mortality.
section reviewed 22/02/13
section updated 14/01/13
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