Cancer mortality by age

Mortality rates are strongly related to age for all cancers combined, with the highest mortality rates being in older people. In the UK in 2014-2016, on average each year more than half (53%) of deaths were in people aged 75 and over.[1-3]

Age-specific mortality rates rise steadily from around age 50-54 and more steeply from around age 75-79. The highest rates are in the 90+ age group for males and females.

Mortality rates are significantly lower in males than females in the 30-54 age groups and significantly higher in males than females in the older age groups. The gap is widest at age 90+, when the age-specific mortality rate is 2 times higher in males than females.

All Cancers Combined (C00-C97), Average Number of Deaths per Year and Age-Specific Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2014-2016

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits  around the AS Rate

Children aged 0-14, and young people aged 15-24, each account for less than one per cent of all cancer deaths in the UK, with slightly more deaths in males than females in both age groups (2014-2016).[1-3] 

Adults aged 25-49 contribute around 5 in 100 (4%) of all cancer deaths, with slightly fewer deaths in males than females in this age group.[1-3] Adults aged 50-74 account for more than 4 in 10 (42%) of all cancer deaths, and elderly people aged 75+ account for more than half (54%), with slightly more deaths in males than females in both age groups.

The five most common causes of cancer death in males varies considerably by age group, with particular differences in the cancer types diagnosed in children, young people, compared with the types diagnosed in older people.[1-3]

The Five Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Males, Number of Deaths, by Age, UK, 2014-2016

More than half (53% in 2014-2016) of all male cancer deaths in the UK each year occur in the elderly aged 75+. A further 44% occur in male adults aged 50-74 and 3% occur in males aged 25-49. Children (aged 0-14), and young people (aged 15-24), each account for less than 1% of all cancer deaths in the UK each year.[1-3]

In boys in the UK, brain, other central nervous system (CNS) and intracranial tumours are the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for almost four in ten (37%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In male young people in the UK, brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours are the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for almost a fifth (18%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In males aged 25-49 in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for around three in twenty (14%) of all deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In males aged 50-74 in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for a quarter (25%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In males aged 75+ in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for a fifth (20%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

The five most common causes of cancer death in females varies considerably by age group, with particular differences in the cancer types diagnosed in children, young people, compared with the types diagnosed in older people.[1-3]

The Five Most Common Causes of Cancer Death in Females, Number of Deaths, by Age, UK, 2014-2016

More than half (54% in 2014-2016) of all female cancer deaths in the UK each year occur in the elderly aged 75+. A further 41% occur in female adults aged 50-74 and 5% occur in females aged 25-49. Children (aged 0-14), and young people (aged 15-24), each account for less than 1% of all cancer deaths in the UK each year.[1-3]

In girls in the UK, brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours are the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for almost a third (30%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In female young people in the UK, brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours are the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for around a fifth (19%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In females aged 25-49 in the UK, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for almost a third (31%) of all deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In females aged 50-74 in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for a quarter (25%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In females aged 50-74 in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for a quarter (25%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

In females aged 75+ in the UK, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, accounting for around a fifth (19%) of all cancer deaths in 2014-2016.[1-3]

All cancers combined mortality rates have decreased overall in most broad age groups in males and females combined in the UK since the early 1970s.[1-3] Rates in 0-24s have decreased by 63%, in 25-49s have decreased by 52%, in 50-74s have decreased by 33% and in 75+s have increased by 15%.

All Cancers (C00-97), European Age-Standardised Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population, By Age, UK, 1971-2016

All cancers for people aged 0-24 includes all benign/uncertain or unknown behaviour brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours (ICD-10 codes: D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43 and D44.3-D44.5). All cancers for all other age groups do not include benign/uncertain or unknown behaviour brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours.