Global cancer cases could rise by 67 per cent by 2050, reaching 34 million annually, according to the latest GLOBOCAN estimates released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The report said 20.6 million new cancer cases and 9.8 million cancer deaths were recorded worldwide in 2024. It projected that cancer deaths could also increase to 17.5 million by 2050, representing an almost 80 per cent rise.
The estimates, released as IARC marks its 60th anniversary, provide an overview of cancer incidence and mortality across countries, regions, age groups and sexes.
Of the 20.6 million new cases recorded in 2024, 10.6 million occurred among men and 10 million among women. Men also accounted for 56 per cent of the estimated cancer deaths, compared with 44 per cent among women.
Freddie Bray, Head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, said the figures highlighted the disproportionate impact of cancer on men.
“One in nine men and one in 13 women die from cancer,” he said, attributing the disparity partly to differences in cancer types and the generally poorer prognosis of cancers affecting men.
The report identified significant geographical disparities in cancer incidence and mortality, driven by population size, ageing, exposure to risk factors and unequal access to prevention and treatment.
China accounts for about one-quarter of global cancer cases and deaths, while Europe, despite having only 9.2 per cent of the world’s population, accounts for more than 20 per cent of global cancer incidence.
IARC said cancer incidence rates could vary threefold between countries, while mortality rates could differ by as much as fivefold.
The highest incidence rates were recorded in countries including Australia and Denmark, while some of the lowest were found in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Mortality rates were highest in Eastern Europe and Melanesia.
Bray warned that the world was not doing enough to reverse the trend.
“To simply maintain current numbers of cases and deaths, we would need a 2 percent decline in both incidence and mortality every year – and we are nowhere near that,” he said.
Lung cancer remains the world’s leading cancer in both incidence and mortality and is the leading cause of cancer death in 89 countries, particularly among men.
Breast cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers globally and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 164 countries. It is also the leading cause of cancer death among women in 122 countries.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in 123 countries, with increased diagnostic testing contributing to its prevalence.
In sub-Saharan Africa, breast and cervical cancers account for more than half of all cancers among women, while infection-related cancers constitute about 80 per cent of preventable cancers in the region.
IARC warned that continued tobacco use, ageing populations and persistent inequalities in cancer prevention and care could drive further increases in cancer cases and deaths.
The agency also highlighted major gaps in cancer surveillance, noting that only one in three countries reports high-quality cancer incidence data, while just one in four has reliable mortality data.
It said the data gaps make it difficult for governments to accurately assess their cancer burden, plan healthcare services, allocate resources and measure the effectiveness of interventions.
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) said the latest figures underscored the need for stronger national cancer control plans, particularly in prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
According to the organisation, about half of cancer deaths are potentially avoidable through proven interventions such as tobacco control, vaccination, screening and equitable access to effective treatment.
The World Health Organisation’s Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, which also draws on GLOBOCAN 2024 data, similarly found that progress against cancer remains uneven, with significant gaps in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The report also highlighted the financial burden of cancer and the consequences of late diagnosis for patients and families.
The latest projections suggest that without significant improvements in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment, the global number of people diagnosed with and dying from cancer will continue to rise sharply over the coming decades.