Global cancer cases are projected to increase by 67 per cent by 2050, with the latest GLOBOCAN report warning of a growing cancer burden and significant inequalities in prevention, early detection, treatment and cancer surveillance worldwide.
The GLOBOCAN 2024 report, released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), recorded an estimated 20.6 million new cancer cases and 9.8 million cancer deaths globally in 2024.
According to the report, annual new cancer cases could reach 34 million by 2050, representing a 67 per cent increase from 2024 levels.
Cancer-related deaths are also projected to rise significantly, reaching approximately 17.5 million annually by 2050, an increase of nearly 80 per cent.
Released to mark IARC’s 60th anniversary, the report provides an assessment 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 9.8 million cancer deaths, compared with 44 per cent among women.
The report estimates that one in nine men and one in 13 women will die from cancer, with the disparity linked partly to differences in the types of cancers affecting men and women and generally poorer outcomes for cancers that are more common among men.
Major Global Inequalities
The report highlighted major geographical differences in cancer incidence and mortality, driven by population growth, ageing, exposure to risk factors and unequal access to healthcare.
China accounts for roughly one in four cancer cases and one in four cancer deaths globally, while Europe, despite having only about 9.2 per cent of the world’s population, accounts for more than 20 per cent of global cancer cases.
Cancer incidence rates vary by as much as threefold between countries, while mortality rates can differ by up to fivefold.
Countries such as Australia and Denmark recorded some of the highest incidence rates, while some of the lowest were reported in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. However, mortality rates were highest in regions including Eastern Europe and Melanesia.
The report also identified specific areas with particularly high burdens of certain cancers, including liver cancer in Mongolia and cervical cancer in Zimbabwe.
According to the findings, these differences reflect not only variations in cancer risk but also inequalities in early detection, diagnosis and access to effective treatment.
Lung Cancer Remains Leading Cause of Cancer Death
Lung cancer remains the world’s leading cancer in terms of both incidence and mortality. It is the leading cause of cancer death in 89 countries, particularly among men.
Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide and, outside China, is the most frequently diagnosed cancer across all levels of the Human Development Index.
Among women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 164 countries and the leading cause of cancer death in 122 countries.
Prostate cancer, meanwhile, is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in 123 countries, partly reflecting increased diagnostic testing.
Sub-Saharan Africa Faces Growing Burden
Cancer patterns are increasingly influenced by sex, economic development, population ageing and infection.
In sub-Saharan Africa, breast and cervical cancers account for more than half of all cancers among women, while infection-related cancers contribute to approximately 80 per cent of preventable cancer cases in the region.
The report warned that continued tobacco use, ageing populations and persistent inequalities in cancer prevention and treatment could further increase the global cancer burden.
While some high-income countries have recorded declining mortality rates because of improved prevention, early detection and treatment, cancer incidence continues to rise in most parts of the world.
The report also pointed to a major weakness in global cancer surveillance. Only about one in three countries currently reports high-quality cancer incidence data, while only one in four has reliable mortality data.
The findings underscore the need for stronger cancer prevention programmes, improved early detection, better access to treatment and more reliable data collection, particularly in countries where healthcare resources remain limited.