Cancer Worldwide - the global picture

Worldwide cancer statistics are available from GLOBOCAN 2008 published in December 2010, version 1.2. The GLOBOCAN database presents cancer statistics for all cancers combined and 27 specific types of cancer for almost all countries or territories of the world. 

Download the free PDF of the map below, showing the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the different regions of the world, 2008 estimates.

(Clicking on the map downloads the A4 PDF version)

According to GLOBOCAN, an estimated 12.66 million new cancer cases and 7.56 million deaths occurred in 2008.2 The most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide are lung (1.61 million, 12.7% of the total), breast (1.38 million, 10.9%) and colorectal cancers (1.24 million, 9.7%). The most common causes of cancer death are lung (1.38 million, 18.2% of the total), stomach (0.74 million, 9.7%) and liver cancers (0.69 million, 9.2%).2

GLOBOCAN also provides cancer incidence and mortality projections for the next twenty years.

section updated: 19/09/11

An estimated 12.66 million people were diagnosed with cancer across the world in 2008 (Table 1.1).2 This equates to around 188 cases for every 100,000 people (using the crude rate). 'Cancer' includes all malignant tumours excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). NMSCs are often excluded from cancer statistics because they are very common and have been shown to be under-ascertained in cancer registration data.

Table 1.1: Population Measures and Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Regions of the World, Estimates Between 2005-2010

 * All cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. Kaposi sarcoma is included for Sub-Saharan Africa countries only.

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The number of new cases ranged from 67,000 in Middle Africa to 3.72 million in Eastern Asia. As expected from the size of Asia’s population, the majority of cases (48%) occurred there. 2,4

Cancer was estimated to account for around 14% of all deaths (due to any cause) worldwide in 2008. 2,6 This varied four-fold across the regions of the world, from 5% in Africa to 21% in Western Pacific (Figure 1.1). In the UK, more than a quarter (27%) of all deaths were reported to be due to cancer in 2008. 7-9

Figure 1.1: Percentage of all Deaths Due to Cancer, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regions of the World, 2008 Estimates

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An estimated 7.56 million people died from cancer across the world in 2008 (Table 1.1). 2

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Just four cancer sites – lung, female breast, colorectum (including anus) and stomach – accounted for two-fifths (41%) of the world’s total cancer diagnoses in 2008 (Figure 1.2).2 The most common cancer sites in the UK are breast, lung, colorectum and prostate; together, these sites accounted for more than half (54%) of the UK's total in 2008. 2

Figure 1.2: The 20 Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancers Worldwide, 2008 Estimates

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Cancer incidence worldwide is more than a fifth higher in men than in women, with World age-standardised incidence rates of 204 and 165 per 100,000, respectively, in 2008. 2,5 Male incidence rates vary almost four-fold across the different regions of the world; in 2008, rates ranged from 88 per 100,000 in Middle Africa to 334 and 335 per 100,000 in Northern America and Western Europe, respectively.

There is slightly less variation in female incidence rates across the different regions of the world (almost three-fold); in 2008, rates ranged from 97 per 100,000 in Middle Africa to 274 per 100,000 in Northern America. The countries with the highest incidence rates in 2008 were France and Australia in males (both 361 per 100,000), and Denmark (325 per 100,000) in females. The UK was 33rd highest out of 184 countries worldwide for males and 12th highest for females. 2

Figure 1.3 shows the trends over time for the eight most common cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2008. For more information see the individual cancer type pages.

Figure 1.3: Trends in the Ranking of New Cases of Cancer Worldwide, Selected Cancers, 1975-2008

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The four most common sites of cancer death – lung, stomach, liver and colorectum – accounted for 45% of the world’s total cancer mortality (Figure 1.4). 2 The most common causes of cancer death in the UK are lung, colorectum, breast and prostate; together these sites accounted for almost half (47%) of the UK’s total in 2008.2

Figure 1.4: The 20 Most Common Causes of Death from Cancer Worldwide, 2008 Estimates

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As the world’s population continues to grow and age, the burden of cancer will inevitably increase, even if current incidence rates remain the same. More than half of all cancers worldwide are already diagnosed in the developing countries, and without intervention this proportion is predicted to rise in the coming decades.1 Based on current rates GLOBOCAN 2008 projects that by 2030, there will be almost 21.4 million new cases diagnosed annually and that there will be over 13.2 million deaths from cancer.2

In 2008, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified cancer as one of the four leading threats to human health and development (along with cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes).10 The WHO states that the global burden of cancer can be reduced and controlled by implementing three evidence-based strategies: preventing cancer from occurring in the first place, detecting cancer earlier and managing patients with cancer.11

In September 2011, the United Nations General Assembly is holding a high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases to address the threat posed to low- and middle-income countries.12 While it is clear that tackling cancer worldwide will remain one of the major challenges in the 21st century, this high-level meeting will finally put cancer on the global agenda, providing the biggest and best opportunity to drive forward major change in this area.

section updated 19/09/11