Lung cancer and smoking statistics - Key Facts

• Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the UK after breast cancer.
• Around 41,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK in 2008, that’s around 112 people every day
• Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men after prostate cancer, with more than 22,800 new cases diagnosed in the UK in 2008.
• More than 17,900 women were diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK in 2008, making it the third most common cancer in women after breast and bowel cancer.
• More than 8 in 10 lung cancer cases occur in people aged 60 and over.
• Rates of lung cancer in Scotland are among the highest in the world, reflecting their history of high smoking prevalence.
• In the 1950s, for every lung cancer case diagnosed in women in the UK, there were 6 in men. That ratio is now 3 cases in women for every 4 in men.
• Lung cancer incidence rates in men peaked in the late 1970s and since then have decreased by more than 45%. This reflects the decline in smoking rates in men after World War II.
• From the mid 1970’s to late 80’s, lung cancer rates among women increased by around 45%, since then they have increased more slowly with an increase of around 13%. The difference in lung cancer trends in men and women reflect variations in past smoking behaviour.
• Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world with an estimated 1.61 million new cases diagnosed in 2008.
• Worldwide, the highest rates of lung cancer in men are in Central and Eastern Europe and for women in Northern America. The lowest lung cancer rates in the world for men and women are in Middle African countries.
• In the European Union (EU-27) there were an estimated 289,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in 2008.

Read more in depth lung cancer incidence statistics.

section updated 29/07/11

• Lung cancer survival rates are higher the earlier the cancer is diagnosed.
• More than two-thirds of lung cancers are diagnosed at a late stage and so survival rates for these patients are lower.
• Overall, less than 10% of lung cancer patients survive the disease for at least five years after diagnosis.

section updated 14/02/11

Read more in depth lung cancer survival statistics.

• Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for more than 1 in 5 cancer deaths.
• Almost 35,000 people died from lung cancer in the UK in 2009, that’s around 96 people every day.
• More than three-quarters of people who die from lung cancer are aged 65 or over.
• It is estimated that in the European Union (EU-27) more than a quarter of a million people died from lung cancer in 2008.
• Worldwide around 1.38 million people died from lung cancer in 2008.

Read more in depth lung cancer mortality statistics.

section updated 18/01/12

• The link between tobacco and cancer was established more than 50 years ago.
• Smoking causes more than 8 in 10 lung cancers in the UK.
• In Britain, around 1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes, that’s about 9.5 million people.
• Less than 1% of 11 and 12 year olds in England are smokers, but this rises to 12% by age 15 despite the fact that it is illegal to sell any tobacco product to under 18s.
• Stopping smoking before middle age avoids most of the risk of smoking-related lung cancer.
• Living with someone who smokes, increases risk of lung cancer in non-smokers by about a quarter.
• It is estimated that exposure to passive smoke in the home causes around 11,000 deaths every year in the UK from lung cancer, stroke and ischaemic heart disease.
• Radon is a naturally occurring gas that increases risk of lung cancer, especially among smokers.
• A small proportion of lung cancer cases are caused by heavy exposure to industrial carcinogens and air pollutants, including diesel exhaust, asbestos, non-ferrous metals, silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.

Read more in depth lung cancer risk factors.

section updated 18/01/12

*age-standardised to the European population 

section updated 18/01/12

More in depth lung cancer statistics can be found using these links: incidence, survival, mortality, risk factors, symptoms and treatment, molecular biology and genetics and smoking.