Cervical cancer incidence statistics

Cases

New cases of cervical cancer, 2014-2016 average, UK

 

Proportion of all cases

Percentage cervical cancer is of total cancer cases, 2014-2016 average, UK

 

Age

Peak rate of cervical cancer cases, 2014-2016, UK

 

Trend over time

Change in cervical cancer incidence rates since the early 1990s, Females, UK

Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer in females in the UK, accounting for 2% of all new cancer cases in females (2016). In females and males combined, cervical cancer is not among the 20 most common cancers in the UK, accounting for less than 1% of all new cancer cases (2016).[1-4]

Cervical cancer incidence rates (European age-standardised (AS) rates Open a glossary item) are significantly higher than the UK average in Scotland, and similar to the UK average in all other UK constituent countries.

Cervical Cancer (C53), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, Females, UK, 2016

  England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland UK
Female Cases 2,594 339 171 82 3,186
Crude Rate 9.3 12.2 10.8 8.7 9.6
AS Rate 9.4 12.3 11.5 9.0 9.7
AS Rate - 95% LCL 9.1 11.0 9.8 7.0 9.4
AS Rate - 95% UCL 9.8 13.6 13.2 10.9 10.1
Persons Cases 2,594 339 171 82 3,186
Crude Rate 4.7 6.3 5.5 4.4 4.9
AS Rate 4.8 6.4 5.9 4.6 5.0
AS Rate - 95% LCL 4.6 5.7 5.0 3.6 4.8
AS Rate - 95% UCL 5.0 7.0 6.7 5.6 5.2

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits Open a glossary item  around the AS Rate Open a glossary item
 

For cervical cancer, like most cancer types, differences between countries largely reflect risk factor prevalence in years past.

See also

Cervical cancer mortality statistics by sex and UK country

In Situ cervical cancer incidence statistics by sex and UK country

Cancer incidence for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. Data were provided by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (part of Public Health England), on request through the Office for Data Release, August 2018. Similar data can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/previousReleases
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications.
  3. Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, February 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.
  4. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/

About this data

Data is for UK, 2016, ICD-10 C53.

Last reviewed:

Cervical cancer incidence is related to age, with the highest incidence rates being in the 25 to 29 age group. In the UK in 2014-2016, on average each year a tenth (10%) of new cases were in females aged 75 and over.[1-4] This is a lower proportion of cases in older age groups compared with most cancers.

Age-specific incidence rates rise sharply from around age 15-19 and peak in the 25-29 age group, then drop gradually until age 60-64 before rising again. The highest rates are in the 25 to 29 age group.

Cervical Cancer (C53), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, Females, UK, 2014-2016

95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits Open a glossary item  around the AS Rate Open a glossary item
 

For cervical cancer, like other cancer types with a screening programme, incidence increases rapidly at the age screening starts, as prevalent cases are identified. Incidence then tends to return to the usual pattern of gradual increase with age, which largely reflects cell DNA damage accumulating over time. Damage can result from biological processes or from exposure to risk factors. A drop or plateau in incidence in the oldest age groups often indicates reduced diagnostic activity perhaps due to general ill health.

See also

Cervical cancer mortality statistics by age

Cancer incidence statistics by age for all cancers

Cervical screening

References

  1. Data were provided by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (part of Public Health England), on request through the Office for Data Release, August 2018. Similar data can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/previousReleases
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications.
  3. Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, February 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.
  4. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2014-2016, ICD-10 C53.

Last reviewed:

Cervical cancer European age-standardised (AS) Open a glossary item incidence rates for females decreased by 24% in the UK between 1993-1995 and 2014-2016.[1-4].
Over the last decade in the UK (between 2004-2006 and 2014-2016), cervical cancer AS incidence rates for females increased by 4%.[1-4]

Cervical Cancer (ICD-10 C53), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, Females, UK, 1993-2016

Cervical cancer incidence rates have decreased overall in some broad age groups in females in the UK since the early 1990s, but have increased in others.[1-4] Rates in 20-24s have increased by 82%, in 25-34s have increased by 45%, in 35-49s have decreased by 18%, in 50-64s have decreased by 39%, in 65-79s have decreased by 57%, and in 80+s have decreased by 43%.

Cervical Cancer (ICD-10 C53), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, By Age, Females, UK, 1993-2016

For cervical cancer, like most cancer types, incidence trends largely reflect changing prevalence of risk factors and improvements in diagnosis and data recording. Recent incidence trends are influenced by risk factor prevalence in years past, and trends by age group reflect risk factor exposure in birth cohorts.

See also

Cervical cancer mortality trends over time

Cervical cancer survival trends over time

Cervical cancer risk factors

In situ cervical carcinoma incidence trends over time

Screening for cervical cancer

Cancer incidence trends over time for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. Data were provided by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (part of Public Health England), on request through the Office for Data Release, August 2018. Similar data can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/previousReleases
  2. Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications.
  3. Data were provided by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales on request, February 2019. Similar data can be found here: http://www.wcisu.wales.nhs.uk.
  4. Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, April 2018. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.

About this data

Data is for UK, 1993-2016, ICD-10 C53.

Last reviewed:

Overall stage at diagnosis

A high proportion (95%) of cervical cancers recorded with a known stage at diagnosis in Northern Ireland.[1]

Cervical cancer patients diagnosed with a known stage are most commonly diagnosed at stage I (57%). More patients with a known stage are diagnosed at an early stage (76% are diagnosed at stage I or II), than a late stage (25% are diagnosed at stage III or IV). Around 1 in 10 (9%) have metastases at diagnosis (stage IV).[1]

The stage distribution for each cancer type will reflect many factors including how the cancer type develops, the way symptoms appear, public awareness of symptoms, how quickly a person goes to see their doctor and how quickly the cancer is recognised and diagnosed by a doctor. It might also relate to whether a national screening programme that can detect early stage disease exists for that cancer type, along with the extent of uptake of that programme.

A cancer type associated with a large proportion of early stage diagnoses could be one that is more likely to be symptomatic at an earlier stage of development, with recognisable symptoms rather than more generic ones.

Cervical Cancer (C53), Proportion of Cases Diagnosed at Each Stage, All Ages, Northern Ireland 2010-2014

See also

View our patient information on staging for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer survival by stage at diagnosis

More about incidence by stage data collection and quality

Routes to Diagnosis

References

  1. Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Queens University Belfast, Incidence by stage 2010-2014. Belfast: NICR; 2016

About this data

Data is for: Northern Ireland, 2010-2014, ICD10 C53

Last reviewed:

It has been estimated that around two thirds of cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Open a glossary item and around 15% are adenocarcinoma Open a glossary item (with nearly all of the remainder of cases being registered as poorly specified).[1-3] An analysis of cervical cancer incidence in Sweden has shown that an early age peak at 35-39 years is apparent for both SCC and adenocarcinoma.[4]

A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer has reported an increase in adenocarcinoma and a downward trend in SCC in many countries worldwide.[5,6]

See also

Find out more about the counting and coding of this data

Cancer incidence statistics for common cancers in the UK

References

  1. Vizcaino AP, Moreno V, Bosch FX, et al. International Trends in Incidence of Cervical Cancer: II Squamous-cell Carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2000;86(3):429-435.
  2. Vizcaino AP, Moreno V, Bosch FX. International trends in the incidence of Cervical Cancer: Adenocarcinoma and Adenosquamous cell Carcinomas. International Journal of Cancer 1998;75(4):536-545.
  3. Quinn M, Babb P, Brock A, et al. Cancer Trends in England & Wales 1950-1999. London: Office for National Statistics; 2001.
  4. Hemminki K, Li X, Mutanen P. Age-incidence relationships and time trends in cervical cancer in Sweden. European Journal of Epidemiology 2001;17(4):323-8.
  5. Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, et al. GLOBOCAN 2008 v1.2, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No.10 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2010. Available from http://globocan.iarc.fr.
  6. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). World Cancer Report 2008. Lyon: IARC; 2008.

About this data

See source for ICD codes and other data specifics

Last reviewed:

Cervical cancer incidence rates are projected to rise by 43% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 17 cases per 100,000 females by 2035.[1]

Cervical cancer (C53), Observed and Projected Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, by Sex, UK, 1979-2035

Download the data table (xls)

Increases in incidence has been noted for cancers associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV), including cervical cancer. However, the benefits of the HPV vaccination programme have not yet been realised. The vaccination programme was introduced throughout UK in 2008, offering the vaccine to 12–13-year-old girls. Therefore these projections could act as a benchmark to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine, as its impact is not yet reflected in the data.
 

It is projected that 4,792 cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the UK in 2035.

See also

Find out how these projections were calculated

Incidence trends over time for cervical cancer

Projections of incidence for all cancers combined

Cervical cancer risk

Download the projections data table

References

  1. Smittenaar CR, Petersen KA, Stewart K, Moitt N. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Projections in the UK Until 2035. Brit J Cancer 2016.

About this data

Data is for: UK, 1979-2014 (observed), 2015-2035 (projected), ICD-10 C53

Projections are based on observed incidence and mortality rates and therefore implicitly include changes in cancer risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. It is not possible to assess the statistical significance of changes between 2014 (observed) and 2035 (projected) figures. Confidence intervals are not calculated for the projected figures. Projections are by their nature uncertain because unexpected events in future could change the trend. It is not sensible to calculate a boundary of uncertainty around these already uncertain point estimates. Changes are described as 'increase' or 'decrease' if there is any difference between the point estimates.

More on projections methodology

Last reviewed:

There is evidence for an association between cervical cancer incidence and deprivation in England.[1] European age-standardised incidence rates are 72% higher for females living in the most deprived areas in England compared with the least deprived, as shown for females diagnosed with cervical cancer during 2006-2010.[1]

Cervical Cancer (C53), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates by Deprivation Quintile, Females, England, 2006-2010

The estimated deprivation gradient in cervical cancer incidence between females living in the most and least deprived areas in England has not changed in the period 1996-2010.[1] It is estimated that there would have been around 520 fewer cervical cancer cases each year in England during 2006-2010 if all females experienced the same incidence rates as the least deprived.[1]

See also

Deprivation gradient for cancer incidence

Deprivation gradient in cervical cancer mortality

Socio-economic variation in cancer incidence for Scotland

Socio-economic variation in cancer incidence for Wales

Socio-economic variation in cancer incidence for Northern Ireland

References

  1. Cancer Research UK and National Cancer Intelligence Network. Cancer by deprivation in England: Incidence, 1996-2010, Mortality, 1997-2011. London: NCIN; 2014.

About this data

Data is for UK, 2006-2010, ICD-10 C53

Deprivation gradient statistics were calculated using incidence data for 2006-2010. The deprivation quintiles were calculated using the Income domain scores from the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) from the following years: 2004, 2007 and 2010. Full details on the data and methodology can be found in the Cancer by Deprivation in England NCIN report.

Last reviewed:

Age-standardised rates for White females with cervical cancer range from 8.2 to 8.7 per 100,000. Rates for Black females are similar, ranging from 6.3 to 11.2 per 100,000, whereas the rates for Asian females are significantly lower, ranging from 3.6 to 6.5 per 100,000.[1]

Ranges are given because of the analysis methodology used to account for missing and unknown data. For cervical cancer, 11,579 cases were identified; 22% had no known ethnicity.

See also

Find out more about the counting and coding of this data

Cervical cancer mortality statistics by ethnicity

Cancer incidence statistics by ethnicity

References

  1. National Cancer Intelligence Network and Cancer Research UK. Cancer Incidence and Survival by Major Ethnic Group, England, 2002-2006. 2009

About this data

Data is for England, 2002-2006, ICD-10 C53

Last reviewed:

An estimated 34,800 women who had been diagnosed with cervical cancer between 1991 and 2010 were alive in the UK at the end of 2010.[1]

See also

Cervical cancer incidence statistics by sex and UK country

What is prevalence?

References

  1. Macmillan Cancer Support and National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. Cancer Prevalence UK Data Tables. London: NCRAS; 2015.

About this data

Data is for: Great Britain (1991-2010) and Northern Ireland (1993-2010), ICD-10 C53

Last reviewed:

Cancer stats explained

See information and explanations on terminology used for statistics and reporting of cancer, and the methods used to calculate some of our statistics.

Cancer stats explained

Citation

You are welcome to reuse this Cancer Research UK content for your own work.
Credit us as authors by referencing Cancer Research UK as the primary source. Suggested styles are:

Web content: Cancer Research UK, full URL of the page, Accessed [month] [year].
Publications: Cancer Research UK ([year of publication]), Name of publication, Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when reused unaltered): Credit: Cancer Research UK.
Graphics (when recreated with differences): Based on a graphic created by Cancer Research UK.

When Cancer Research UK material is used for commercial reasons, we encourage a donation to our life-saving research.
Send a cheque payable to Cancer Research UK to: Cancer Research UK, Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London, EC1V 4AD or

Donate online

We’re now on twitter.

Join the conversation and follow @TalkCancer_CRUK for news, updates and opinion.

@TalkCancer_CRUK

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the many organisations across the UK which collect, analyse, and share the data which we use, and to the patients and public who consent for their data to be used. Find out more about the sources which are essential for our statistics.