Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males in the UK, accounting for 27% of all new cancer cases in males (2016-2018).In females and males combined, prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 14% of all new cancer cases (2016-2018).[1-4]
Prostate cancer incidence rates (European age-standardised ) for males are significantly higher than the UK average in England and Wales and significantly lower than the UK average in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For prostate cancer, there are few established risk factors therefore differences between countries largely reflect differences in diagnosis and data recording.
Prostate Cancer (C61), 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 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Cases | 44,365 | 3,761 | 2,919 | 1,209 | 52,254 |
Crude Rate | 161.4 | 142.5 | 189.5 | 131.3 | 160.4 | |
AS Rate | 186.4 | 157.3 | 193.2 | 166.3 | 183.8 | |
AS Rate - 95% LCL | 185.4 | 154.4 | 189.1 | 160.9 | 182.9 | |
AS Rate - 95% UCL | 187.4 | 160.2 | 197.2 | 171.7 | 184.7 | |
Persons | Cases | 44,365 | 3,761 | 2,919 | 1,209 | 52,254 |
Crude Rate | 79.8 | 69.4 | 93.4 | 64.6 | 79.1 | |
AS Rate | 86.5 | 71.3 | 89.8 | 75.7 | 85.1 | |
AS Rate - 95% LCL | 86.0 | 70.0 | 88.0 | 73.2 | 84.7 | |
AS Rate - 95% UCL | 87.0 | 72.6 | 91.7 | 78.2 | 85.5 |

References
-
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
-
Data were provided by ISD Scotland on request, April 2020. Similar data can be found here: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Cancer/Publications.
-
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.
-
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 C61.