In 2022, the highest cancer rate for men and women among European countries was in Denmark with 728.5 cancer cases per 100,000 population. Ireland and the Netherlands followed, with 641.6 and 641.4 people diagnosed with cancer per 100,000 population, respectively.
Lung cancer Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer worldwide, and in Europe, Germany was the country with the highest number of lung cancer deaths in 2022, with 47.7 thousand deaths. However, when looking at the incidence rate of lung cancer, Hungary had the highest for both males and females, with 138.4 and 72.3 cases per 100,000 population, respectively.
Breast cancer Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women with an incidence rate of 83.3 cases per 100,000 population in Europe in 2022. Cyprus was the country with the highest incidence of breast cancer, followed by Belgium and France. The mortality rate due to breast cancer was 34.8 deaths per 100,000 population across Europe, and Cyprus was again the country with the highest figure.

In 2022, the incidence of lung cancer among men in Europe was highest in Hungary at 138.4 per 100,000, while Sweden had the lowest incidence. The incidence of lung cancer recorded among women in Denmark was over 79 per 100,000 population. Across the European Union overall, the rate of lung cancer diagnoses was 94.5 per 100,000 among men and 44.1 per 100,000 among women. Smoking and lung cancer risk The connection between smoking and the increased risk of health problems is well established. As of 2021, Hungary had one of the highest daily smoking rates in Europe, with over a quarter of adults smoking daily in the Central European country. The only other countries with a higher share of smoking adults were Bulgaria and Turkey. A positive development though, is the share of adults smoking every day has decreased in almost every European country since 2011. The rise of vaping Originally marketed as a device to help smokers quit, e-cigarettes or vapes have seen increased popularity among people who never smoked cigarettes, especially young people. The use of vapes among young people was reported to be highest in Estonia, Czechia, and Ireland. The dangers of vaping have not been examined over the long term. In the EU there have been attempts to make ‘vapes’ less accessible and appealing for young people, which would include such things as banning flavors and stopping the sale of disposable e-cigarettes.

In 2022, Utah had the lowest death rate from cancer among all U.S. states with around 116 deaths per 100,000 population. The states with the highest cancer death rates at that time were Mississippi, Kentucky and West Virginia. This statistic shows cancer death rates in the United States in 2022, by state.

In 2022, the mortality rate of breast cancer in women in Europe was 34.8 per 100,000 women. Cyprus had the highest mortality rate at 45.1 per 100,000, followed by Slovakia with 44.9 per 100,000 women. Conversely, Spain had the lowest mortality rate at 23.3 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the mortality rate of breast cancer in Europe in 2022 in women population, by country.

In 2022, Uruguay had the highest age-standardized prevalence rate of all cancer types in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 1,316 cases per 100,000 population. Barbados and Cuba followed, with cancer prevalence rates of 1,192.3 and 1,114.8, respectively. That year, Uruguay also had the region's highest mortality death rate.

In 2022, the mortality rate of prostate cancer in Europe was 38.6 per 100,000. Estonia had the highest mortality rate at 80.4 per 100,000, followed by Latvia with 76.1 per 100,000 men. Conversely, Italy had the lowest mortality rate at 25.7 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the mortality rate of prostate cancer Europe in 2022, by country.

Cancer was responsible for around 142 deaths per 100,000 population in the United States in 2022. The death rate for cancer has steadily decreased since the 1990’s, but cancer still remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. The deadliest type of cancer for both men and women is cancer of the lung and bronchus which will account for an estimated 65,790 deaths among men alone in 2024. Probability of surviving Survival rates for cancer vary significantly depending on the type of cancer. The cancers with the highest rates of survival include cancers of the thyroid, prostate, and testis, with five-year survival rates as high as 99 percent for thyroid cancer. The cancers with the lowest five-year survival rates include cancers of the pancreas, liver, and esophagus. Risk factors It is difficult to determine why one person develops cancer while another does not, but certain risk factors have been shown to increase a person’s chance of developing cancer. For example, cigarette smoking has been proven to increase the risk of developing various cancers. In fact, around 81 percent of cancers of the lung, bronchus and trachea among adults aged 30 years and older can be attributed to cigarette smoking. A recent poll indicated that many U.S. adults believed smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products increased a person’s risk of developing cancer, but a much smaller percentage believed the same for proven risk factors such as obesity and drinking alcohol.

In 2022, the highest breast cancer incidence in women in Europe was estimated in Luxembourg with approximately 190 per 100,000 population. Belgium and Cyprus followed closely. The average breast cancer incidence across EU-27 was 147.6 per 100,00 population, in 2022. Cancer incidence in Europe In 2022, Denmark was the European country with the highest cancer incidence, with 728.5 cases per 100,000 population, followed by Ireland and Netherlands, with both around 641 cases per 100,000 people. Overall, the age-standardized incidence rate of cancer in all sites, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, was 568.7 per 100,000 population in the whole of EU, with the most prevalent type of cancer being prostate cancer, followed by breast and colorectal cancer. Deaths from breast cancer In the same year, breast cancer also had the highest mortality rate among all types of cancers in women, standing at 34.1 deaths per 100,000 females. Cyprus had the highest mortality rate from breast cancer in all of EU with 45.1 deaths per 100,000 women. Meanwhile, the highest number of deaths due to breast cancer in the given year was reported in Germany, where approximately 20.6 thousand women lost their lives to breast cancer.

In 2022, the mortality rate of lung cancer in the European was 77.2 per 100,000 men and 32.8 per 100,000 women. Among men the mortality rate was highest in Hungary and lowest in Sweden being 120 and 34.4 per 100,000 respectively. Hungary was also the country with the highest lung cancer mortality rate in women with 61.3 per 100,000 women. The lowest was in Lithuania with 16.4 per 100,000 women. In most EU countries, there was a marked difference between the mortality of lung cancer in men and women.

In 2022, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer in the EU was, among men, 92.7 per 100,000, while among women it stood at 58.2 per 100,000. For men, Hungary had the highest incidence rate at 138.3 per 100,000, while Austria had the lowest at 62.5 per 100,000. For women, Denmark had the highest incidence rate at 95.7 per 100,000, while Austria had the lowest at 37.6 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the incidence rate of colorectal cancer in the EU in 2022, by country and gender (per 100,000 population).

In 2022, the mortality rate of colorectal cancer in Europe was, among men, 42.8 per 100,000, while among women it stood at 24.6 per 100,000. For men, Croatia had the highest mortality rate at 79.3 per 100,000, while Luxembourg had the lowest at 28.2 per 100,000. For women, Croatia also had the highest mortality rate at 36.2 per 100,000, while Austria had the lowest at 17.5 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the mortality rate of colorectal cancer in Europe in 2022, by country and gender.

Nearly 3,900 cancer patients per 100,000 population were recorded in the Mordovia Republic of Russia in 2023, which was the highest prevalence of cases of that disease across the country. The lowest figure was observed in the Tyva Republic almost 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In 2022, cancer caused more than 2.5 million deaths in China, making it one of the major causes of death in the country. Lung cancer was by far the most lethal type of cancer, killing more than 733,000 patients. Other dangerous types include liver, stomach, and oesophageal cancers. Breast cancer, although the sixth most common cancer in terms of new cases, was relatively less deadly than many other types, with less than 75,000 victims.

The burden of cancer in China The high prevalence of cancer carries heavy burdens for patients, their families, and China's healthcare providers. As a group of serious chronic conditions, some cancers are characterized by their low cure rates and increased risks of relapse. At the same time, cancer treatments often require advanced medical resources, usually only found in tier-three general hospitals or specialist cancer institutions. Expensive targeted drugs and imported pharmaceuticals are often necessary to treat cancer patients, thus imposing financial burdens on the patients and their families. Due to the continuous improvement of China's medical insurance system, the financial burden inflicted by cancer has been significantly reduced in many regions.

Challenges to reducing cancer rates
In China, reducing the prevalence of cancer has proven particularly challenging. The incidence of lung cancer remains very high in the country, primarily attributed to high smoking rates and air pollution. At the same time, some dietary habits unique to China, including the preference for consuming very hot water and dishes, have also contributed significantly to the high rates of stomach and oesophageal cancers.

In 2022, the mortality rate of pancreatic cancer in Europe was, among men, 17.2 per 100,000, while among women it stood at 6.3 per 100,000. For men, Romania had the highest mortality rate at 28.1 per 100,000, while Poland had the lowest at 9.4 per 100,000. For women, Romania also had the highest mortality rate at 11.5 per 100,000, while Malta had the lowest at 4 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the mortality rate of live cancer in Europe in 2022, by country and gender.

In 2016 in India during the measured time period, Kerala had the highest crude incidence rate of cancer at 135.3 incidences for every 100,000 inhabitants. Mizoram in East India followed with almost 122 incidences during the same time period.

In 2021, Utah had the highest rate of skin cancer, with an estimated 46 people out of 100,000 diagnosed with melanoma or another non-epithelial skin cancer. This statistic shows the incidence rate of skin cancer in the U.S. in 2021, by state, per 100,000 population.

As of 2021, non-Hispanic white people in the United States had the highest incidence rates of skin cancer among all races and ethnicities. Skin cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the world. Furthermore, the United States is among the countries with the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide. Skin cancer in the U.S. There are a few different types of skin cancer and some are more deadly than others. Basal and squamous skin cancers are more common and less dangerous than melanomas. Among U.S. residents, skin cancer has been demonstrated to be more prevalent among men than women. Skin cancer is also more prevalent among older adults. With treatment and early detection, skin cancers have a high survival rate. Fortunately, in recent years the U.S. has seen a reduction in the rate of death from melanoma. Skin cancer prevention Avoiding and protecting exposed skin from the sun (and other sources of UV light) is the primary means of preventing skin cancer. However, a survey of U.S. adults from 2024 found that around a third never used sunscreen.

In 2023, around 197 deaths per 100,000 population in Russia were attributed to malignant neoplasms. The highest mortality rate due to that reason across the country was recorded in the Kurgan Oblast, measuring at over 276 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The Ingushetia Republic had the lowest mortality rate from cancer, at approximately 44 deaths per 100,000 population. Cancer mortality in Russia Cancer is the second-leading cause of mortality in Russia, being only superseded by circulatory system diseases which were responsible for 567 deaths per 100 thousand population in 2022. However, the number of deaths from cancer has been steadily decreasing year-on-year. In 2021, approximately 279 thousand Russians deceased due to a malignant tumor. That marked a four-percent decrease from the previous year. Furthermore, the five-year cancer survival rate reached an all-time maximum. As of 2021, nearly six in ten patients in Russia continued to be registered with an oncological establishment for five years or more after receiving their diagnosis. Growth in cancer risk factors in Russia Some well-known risk factors for cancer include sun exposure, tobacco and alcohol use, a poor diet, and being overweight. Despite the merits of a healthy lifestyle being widely recognized, the share of healthy lifestyle followers in Russia has been following a downward trend over the past years. In particular, the rates of heavy smokers have increased. In 2022, a fifth of Russians consumed one pack of cigarettes a day or more, a three-percent growth from 2020.

In 2022, Turkey reported a rate of 48 cancer incidents per 100,000 persons per year in the Middle East and North Africa. Morocco, Lebanon, and Tunisia followed with rates between 23 and 26 per 100,000 persons during the same year. Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had the lowest crude rate of cancer incidents in the region with 2.5 incidents per 100,000 people.

In 2022, the mortality rate of bladder cancer in Europe was, among men, 19.4 per 100,000, while among women it stood at 4.4 per 100,000. For men, Poland had the highest mortality rate at 31.7 per 100,000, while Finland had the lowest at 9.4 per 100,000. Conversely, for women, Croatia had the highest mortality rate at 6.5 per 100,000, while Finland had the lowest at 2.4 per 100,000. This statistic depicts the mortality rate of bladder cancer in Europe in 2022, by country and gender.