Nearly 21 million people were diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2024. Additionally, 9.8 million people died from the disease globally during same year. New estimates suggest about 1 in 5 people worldwide will develop cancer during lifetime.
Furthermore, cases could climb by 67% to 34 million by 2050 simply because populations grow and age. According to Global Cancer Statistics, 2026, cancer remains one of greatest public health challenges. About 1 in 9 men and 1 in 13 women are expected to die from cancer worldwide.
The Massive Report Behind The Numbers: ACS and WHO IARC
The report was produced by researchers from American Cancer Society and International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC is cancer agency of World Health Organization.
The study appears in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, flagship journal of ACS. Moreover, data is also available on cancer.org for public access.
“Cancer is one of greatest public health challenges of 21st century,” said Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist at American Cancer Society and lead author. “Understanding magnitude and geographic distributions is essential to guide effective prevention,” she added.
“Nearly half of all cancer deaths are estimated avoidable through modifiable risk factors,” Sung explained. Additionally, substantial proportion can be prevented through early detection and timely treatment.
New figures are based on GLOBOCAN estimates for 2024. GLOBOCAN is database created by IARC tracking 34 cancer types across 186 countries. Researchers examined how diagnoses and deaths vary by region and Human Development Index. Then they used demographic trends to estimate global burden in 2050.
Cancer Rates Vary Dramatically Around The World
One clearest findings is cancer does not affect every region equally. Cancer incidence rates differed by roughly four to five times across regions. Australia/New Zealand had highest incidence rates globally, while some parts of Africa and South-Central Asia had lowest. Moreover, mortality showed smaller but still substantial differences, varying by about two times.
Highest death rates were found among men in Eastern Europe and among women in Melanesia. Therefore, geography and development level strongly influence both diagnosis and survival chances.
Lung Cancer Remains Leading Cancer Worldwide Despite Prevention Efforts
Lung cancer continues to rank first globally for both new diagnoses and cancer deaths. Tobacco remains main driver of disease worldwide.
Nearly 2.6 million new lung cancer cases were recorded in 2024, accounting for 13% of all cancers. Lung cancer also caused 1.9 million deaths, representing 19% of all cancer deaths.
Female breast cancer was second most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. About 2.4 million new cases and 694,000 deaths were recorded, making it leading cancer among women.
Data also reveal striking differences in survival based on location. Women in Western Africa are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as women in Australia/New Zealand.
This disparity occurs even though breast cancer incidence in Western Africa is only about half as high. Consequently, unequal access to diagnosis and treatment drives mortality gap.
Colorectal, Liver, and Prostate Cancer Add To Growing Burden
Colorectal cancer ranked as third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and second leading cause of cancer death. More than 2.0 million new cases were reported, along with 918,000 deaths.
Liver cancer accounted for 843,000 new cases and 732,000 deaths, making it third leading cause of mortality globally. Among men, prostate cancer was second most frequently diagnosed cancer.
About 1.5 million new prostate cancer cases and 420,000 deaths were recorded. Death rates were especially high in Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa, where prostate cancer often leads male cancer deaths.
Stomach cancer was responsible for about 980,000 new cases and 642,000 deaths in 2024. It ranked fifth globally for both incidence and mortality, with highest rates in Eastern Asia.
Cervical cancer remains major cause of preventable deaths despite HPV vaccination and screening availability. It is leading cause of cancer death among women in 26 countries, most in sub-Saharan Africa.
Pancreatic cancer presents different pattern with high mortality despite lower incidence. Although it ranked only 11th in incidence, it caused nearly half a million deaths, placing it sixth for mortality.
Thyroid cancer was also common, with nearly one million new cases worldwide. That made it sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer globally.
Analysis: Prevention Could Have Enormous Impact Before 2050
Despite projected rise to 34 million cases, researchers emphasize large share of deaths may be preventable. Prevention must become every country’s top priority immediately.
“Every region faces different cancer challenges, so every country needs unique plan,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president at American Cancer Society and co-author.
“Cancer prevention must be every country’s top priority,” he stressed.
“We must intensify efforts to help people quit tobacco use, avoid cancer-linked infections, and abstain from alcohol,” Jemal added. Additionally, maintaining healthy weight and daily exercise could prevent substantial proportion of deaths.
Nearly half of cancer deaths are avoidable through modifiable risk factors alone.
Therefore, 2050 projection driven by aging does not have to translate into equivalent mortality increase.
Q&A
Q: How many cancer cases are expected by 2050?
A: Global cases are projected to climb to 34 million by 2050, a 67% increase from 21 million in 2024.
Q: What is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide?
A: Lung cancer remains leading cause, causing 1.9 million deaths in 2024, accounting for 19% of all cancer deaths.
Q: What percentage of cancer deaths are preventable?
A: Researchers estimate nearly half of cancer deaths are avoidable through modifiable risk factors like tobacco, alcohol, and obesity.
FAQ
1. Where was Global Cancer Statistics 2026 published?
Report appears in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, flagship journal of American Cancer Society, based on GLOBOCAN 2024 data from IARC.
2. How many people were diagnosed with cancer in 2024?
Nearly 21 million people were diagnosed worldwide in 2024, while 9.8 million died, according to GLOBOCAN estimates across 186 countries.
3. Why will cancer cases rise to 34 million by 2050?
Rise is driven solely by population growth and aging, not by increased risk, with 1 in 5 people expected to develop cancer.
4. Which regions have highest and lowest cancer rates?
Australia/New Zealand had highest incidence rates, while parts of Africa and South-Central Asia had lowest; mortality highest in Eastern Europe for men.
5. Why is breast cancer more deadly in Africa than Australia?
Women in Western Africa are twice as likely to die despite half the incidence, reflecting unequal access to diagnosis and treatment.
