Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the 6th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 4% of all new cancer cases (2016-2018).[1-4]
In females in the UK, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the 8th most common cancer (3% of all new female cancer cases). In males in the UK, it is the 7th most common cancer (4% of all new male cancer cases).
45% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in the UK are in females, and 55% are in males.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence rates (European age-standardised ) for persons are significantly higher than the UK average in England, significantly lower than the UK average in Scotland and Wales and similar to the UK average in Northern Ireland.
For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, there are few established risk factors therefore differences between countries largely reflect differences in diagnosis and data recording.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (C82-C86), Average Number of New Cases Per Year, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2016-2018
England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | UK | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Female | Cases | 5,425 | 475 | 276 | 154 | 6,330 |
Crude Rate | 19.3 | 17.1 | 17.4 | 16.2 | 18.9 | |
AS Rate | 19.6 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 17.6 | 19.1 | |
AS Rate - 95% LCL | 19.3 | 15.7 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 18.8 | |
AS Rate - 95% UCL | 19.9 | 17.4 | 17.2 | 19.2 | 19.3 | |
Male | Cases | 6,709 | 574 | 366 | 197 | 7,846 |
Crude Rate | 24.4 | 21.8 | 23.8 | 21.4 | 24.1 | |
AS Rate | 27.8 | 23.9 | 24.6 | 26.0 | 27.2 | |
AS Rate - 95% LCL | 27.4 | 22.7 | 23.2 | 23.9 | 26.9 | |
AS Rate - 95% UCL | 28.1 | 25.0 | 26.1 | 28.1 | 27.6 | |
Persons | Cases | 12,134 | 1,049 | 642 | 351 | 14,176 |
Crude Rate | 21.8 | 19.3 | 20.6 | 18.8 | 21.5 | |
AS Rate | 23.3 | 19.8 | 20.0 | 21.6 | 22.8 | |
AS Rate - 95% LCL | 23.1 | 19.1 | 19.1 | 20.3 | 22.6 | |
AS Rate - 95% UCL | 23.6 | 20.5 | 20.9 | 22.9 | 23.0 |

References
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Data were provided by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (part of Public Health England), on request through the Office for Data Release, July 2021. Similar data can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cancerregistrationstatisticsengland/previousReleases
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Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, April 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications.
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Data were published by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, Health Intelligence Division, Public Health Wales https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/welsh-cancer-intelligence-and-surveillance-unit-wcisu/cancer-incidence-in-wales-2002-2018/, March 2021.
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Data were provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry on request, May 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/nicr/.
About this data
Data is for UK, 2016-2018, ICD-10 C82-C86.
The term 'non-Hodgkin lymphoma' describes a large group of lymphoma subtypes, which differ substantially in their cellular origin and clinical behaviour. The subtypes can be broadly divided into B-cell lymphomas, T-cell lymphomas, and lymphoproliferative disorders not otherwise specified. B-cell lymphomas can be further divided into five main types: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphomas, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma. It is important to recognise the variation between these subtypes when interpreting statistics on NHL as a whole. The Haematological Malignancy Research Network provides detailed incidence statistics for NHL subtypes.