Breast cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 11,200 deaths every year; that’s 31 every day (2022-2024). Each year more around half (51%) of breast cancer deaths in the UK are in people aged 75 and over (2022-2024).
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*These statistics are aimed at supporting health professionals, academics, researchers and media. If you are a patient or carer, you may want to visit our public facing webpages.
Breast cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 11,200 deaths every year. Mortality rates are higher in females, making it the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in this demographic.
Explore more detailed gender stats on our dashboard for breast cancer
Mortality rates for breast cancer in the UK are highest in people aged 90+, with around 12% of all breast cancer deaths occurring in this age group (2022-2024).
Explore more detailed age stats on our dashboard for breast cancer
Breast cancer mortality rates have decreased by almost half (46%) in the UK since the early 1970s, and rates have decreased by almost a sixth (16%) in the last decade (2022-2024).
Explore more detailed trends stats on our dashboard for breast cancer
Breast cancer mortality rates in the UK are projected to decrease by 13% between 2024-2026 and 2038-2040, with around 11,500 deaths each year by 2038-2040.
Explore more detailed projections stats on our dashboard for breast cancer
Mortality rates for breast cancer in the UK in females are 12% higher in the most deprived quintile compared with the least, and rates in males are 43% higher in the most deprived quintile compared with the least.
Around 650 deaths from breast cancer each year in the UK are linked with deprivation (around 630 in females, and around 20 in males).
Explore mortality by deprivation statistics and charts on our cancer statistics data hub
Mortality rates for breast cancer are generally lower in females of non-White minority ethnicity, compared with the White ethnic group, in England and Wales (2017-2019).
Read the publication Mortality from leading causes of death by ethnic group, England and Wales.
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