Cancer Worldwide - the global picture

Cancer is a leading cause of disease worldwide and GLOBOCAN estimates that 12.7 million new cancer cases occurred worldwide in 2008.2 Lung (1.6 million, 12.7% of the total for men and women), female breast (1.4 million, 10.9% of the total for women), colorectal (1.2 million, 9.7% of the total for men and women) and stomach cancers (1 million, 7.8% of the total for men and women) were the most common, accounting for more than 40% of all cases diagnosed.2

The most commonly diagnosed cancers in the different regions of the world (2008 estimates) are shown in the map below.

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Cancer is also a leading cause of death worldwide and GLOBOCAN estimates that 7.6 million cancer deaths occurred worldwide in 2008.2 Lung (1.4 million, 18.2% of the total for men and women), stomach (0.7 million, 9.7% of the total for men and women), liver (0.7 million, 9.2% of the total for men and women), colorectal (0.61 million, 8.1% of the total for men and women) and female breast cancers (0.5 million, 6.1% of the total for women) were the most common causes, accounting for more than half of all cancer deaths.2

The World Cancer Factsheet,13 was published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Cancer Research UK for the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, August 2012. It presents statistics on the world cancer burden, including incidence, mortality and prevalence. It also includes information on healthy years of life lost and world cancer trends and incidence projections to 2030. World maps are included showing cancer incidence worldwide as a proportion of all cancers and also the most prevalent cancers across the world for males and females. A map showing cancer incidence by Human Development Index (HDI) is also included, as well as listings of the countries in each HDI category.

• Download the World Cancer Factsheet - A4 version
• Download the World Cancer Factsheet - A3 version

The World Cancer Factsheet also presents worldwide prevalence data, and estimates that almost 29 million people diagnosed with cancer within the five years previously were alive at the end of 2008. Most of these were persons with diagnoses of breast (females only), colorectal and prostate cancers.13 The consequence of the worldwide cancer burden is estimated at 169.3 million years of healthy life being lost globally because of cancer in 2008; colorectal, lung, female breast and prostate cancers being the main contributors to that loss.13

section reviewed 14/09/12
section updated 14/09/12

An estimated 12.66 million people were diagnosed with cancer across the world in 2008 (Table 1.1).2 This equates to around 188 cases for every 100,000 people (using the crude rate). 'Cancer' includes all malignant tumours excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). NMSCs are often excluded from cancer statistics because they are very common and have been shown to be under-ascertained in cancer registration data.

Table 1.1: Population Measures and Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Regions of the World, Estimates Between 2005-2010

 * All cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. Kaposi sarcoma is included for Sub-Saharan Africa countries only.

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The number of new cases ranged from 67,000 in Middle Africa to 3.72 million in Eastern Asia. As expected from the size of Asia’s population, the majority of cases (48%) occurred there.2,4

Cancer was estimated to account for around 14% of all deaths (due to any cause) worldwide in 2008.2,6 This varied four-fold across the regions of the world, from 5% in Africa to 21% in Western Pacific (Figure 1.1). In the UK, more than a quarter (27%) of all deaths were reported to be due to cancer in 2008.7-9

Figure 1.1: Percentage of all Deaths Due to Cancer, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regions of the World, 2008 Estimates

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An estimated 7.56 million people died from cancer across the world in 2008 (Table 1.1).2

section reviewed 19/09/12
section updated 19/09/12

Just four cancer sites – lung, female breast, colorectum (including anus) and stomach – accounted for two-fifths (41%) of the world’s total cancer diagnoses in 2008 (Figure 1.2).2 The most common cancer sites in the UK are breast, lung, colorectum and prostate; together, these sites accounted for more than half (54%) of the UK's total in 2008.2

Figure 1.2: The 20 Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancers Worldwide, 2008 Estimates

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Cancer incidence worldwide is more than a fifth higher in men than in women, with World age-standardised incidence rates of 204 and 165 per 100,000, respectively, in 2008. 2,5 Male incidence rates vary almost four-fold across the different regions of the world; in 2008, rates ranged from 88 per 100,000 in Middle Africa to 334 and 335 per 100,000 in Northern America and Western Europe, respectively.

There is slightly less variation in female incidence rates across the different regions of the world (almost three-fold); in 2008, rates ranged from 97 per 100,000 in Middle Africa to 274 per 100,000 in Northern America. The countries with the highest incidence rates in 2008 were France and Australia in males (both 361 per 100,000), and Denmark (325 per 100,000) in females. The UK was 33rd highest out of 184 countries worldwide for males and 12th highest for females.2

Figure 1.3 shows the trends over time for the eight most common cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2008. For more information see the individual cancer type pages.

Figure 1.3: Trends in the Ranking of New Cases of Cancer Worldwide, Selected Cancers, 1975-2008

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The four most common sites of cancer death – lung, stomach, liver and colorectum – accounted for 45% of the world’s total cancer mortality (Figure 1.4).2 The most common causes of cancer death in the UK are lung, colorectum, breast and prostate; together these sites accounted for almost half (47%) of the UK’s total in 2008.2

Figure 1.4: The 20 Most Common Causes of Death from Cancer Worldwide, 2008 Estimates

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section reviewed 19/09/12
section updated 19/09/12

As the world’s population continues to grow and age, the burden of cancer will inevitably increase, even if current incidence rates remain the same. More than half of all cancers worldwide are already diagnosed in the developing countries, and without intervention this proportion is predicted to rise in the coming decades.1

It is estimated there will be almost 22.2 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide by 2030. These projections are based on demographic changes in populations using UN figures along with crude assumptions about the likely trends in incidence rates for six cancers. Further details are available in the World Cancer factsheet.14

Based solely on current estimated mortality rates for 2008 and population projections, it is estimated there will be over 13.2 million deaths from cancer.2

In 2008, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified cancer as one of the four leading threats to human health and development (along with cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes).10 The WHO states that the global burden of cancer can be reduced and controlled by implementing three evidence-based strategies: preventing cancer from occurring in the first place, detecting cancer earlier and managing patients with cancer.11

In September 2011, the United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases to address the threat posed to low- and middle-income countries.12 While it is clear that tackling cancer worldwide will remain one of the major challenges in the 21st century, this high-level meeting will finally put cancer on the global agenda, providing the biggest and best opportunity to drive forward major change in this area.

section reviewed 19/09/12
section updated 19/09/12