UK Leukaemia incidence statistics

This page presents leukaemia incidence statistics by sex, age and trends over time.

The term ‘leukaemia’ refers to a group of illnesses that are characterised by a proliferation of white blood cells or their precursors. The various types of leukaemia differ substantially in their cellular origin and clinical behaviour and it is important to recognise this when interpreting statistics on incidence and mortality of ‘leukaemia’ as a whole. The ICD code for leukaemia is ICD9 204-208 and ICD10 C91-95.

Leukaemia incidence

 
 

Leukaemia incidence by sex

Leukaemias represent less than 3% of all cancers in the UK. Overall leukaemia is slightly more common in men than women. Grouped together leukaemias are the tenth most common cancer in men and ninth in women. In the UK in 2006 there were 7,237 new cases of leukaemia registered ( Table 1.1). 1-4

Table showing the number of new cases and rates of leukaemia in the countries of the UK

Download this table (37KB)

Back to top
 
 

Leukaemia incidence by age

Figure 1.1 shows how incidence varies with age. The highest incidence in children is in the 0-4 age group. Rates then decline until the early 20s, and increase slowly from the early 30s to the early 50s. Leukaemia incidence then rises more sharply and the rates reach their peak in the over 85s.

It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing leukaemia is 1 in 76 for men and 1 in 108 for women in the UK. These were calculated in February 2009 using incidence and mortality data for 2001-2005. 5

Chart showing the numbers of new cases of leukaemia in the UK and incidence rates by age and sex

Download this chart (43KB)

Back to top
 
 

Leukaemia incidence trends

Leukaemia incidence rates in Great Britain increased slowly until the end of the 1990s ( Figure 1.2). It is likely that better diagnostic tools and improvements in registration partly account for this. However, the last few years have started to see a fall in incidence rates.

Chart showing leukaemia incidence rates in Great Britain since 1975

Download this chart (41.5KB)

Figure 1.3 shows the leukaemia incidence trend in the UK.

Chart showing leukaemia incidence rates in the UK since 1993

Download this chart (40.5KB)

Back to top
 
Forward to UK Leukaemia mortality statistics Forward to
UK Leukaemia mortality statistics

Browse related content

 

References for leukaemia incidence

  1.  Office for National Statistics, Cancer Statistics registrations: Registrations of cancer diagnosed in 2006, England. Series MB1 no.37. 2009, National Statistics: London.
  2.  Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. Cancer Incidence in Wales. 2009
  3.  ISD Online 2009, Information and Statistics Division, NHS Scotland.
  4.   Northern Ireland Cancer Registry 2009. Cancer Incidence and Mortality
  5.  Statistical Information Team, Cancer Research UK. 2009