Top 10 countries with the most cancer: analyst say
The highest cancer rate for men and women combined was in Denmark at 334.9 people per 100,000.
The age-standardised rate was at least 300 per 100,000 for 10 countries: Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, France, The Netherlands, Australia, Norway, France (New Caledonia) and Slovenia.
Globally, 18,094,716 million cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2020. The age-standardised rate for all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) for men and women combined was 190 per 100,000 in 2020. The rate was higher for men (206.9 per 100,000) than women (178.1 per 100,000).
With the burden growing in almost every country, preventing cancer is a significant public health challenge. Around 40% of cancer cases could be prevented by tackling risk factors relating to diet, nutrition and physical activity – for more information see our Cancer Prevention Recommendations.
Reducing the cancer burden requires concerted and integrated action across society, including civil society, private sector, and health and other professions.
Browse our policy section to see how we’re working with others to help make this happen.
ASR = age-standardised rates. These are a summary measure of the rate of disease that a population would have if it had a standard age structure.
Standardisation is necessary when comparing populations that differ with respect to age because age has a powerful influence on the risk of dying from cancer.
Global cancer incidence: both sexes
The highest cancer rate for men and women combined was in Denmark at 334.9 people per 100,000.
The age-standardised rate was at least 300 per 100,000 for 10 countries: Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, France, The Netherlands, Australia, Norway, France (New Caledonia) and Slovenia.
Cancer incidence in men
The highest cancer rate was found in Hungary at 371 men per 100,000.
The age-standardised rate was at least 350 per 100,000 in 8 countries: Hungary, Latvia, France, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and Ireland.
Global cancer mortality: both sexes
The highest rate of cancer deaths for men and women combined was in Mongolia at 175.9 people per 100,000.
The age-standardised rate was at least 140 per 100,000 for 5 countries: Mongolia, Serbia, Hungary, Montenegro and Slovakia.
Note: The most common type of cancer on the list is breast cancer, with 313,510 new cases expected in the United States in 2024.
The next most common cancers are prostate cancer and lung cancer.
Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as “colorectal cancers,” these two cancer types are combined for the list.
