Overview

Cancer is a major cause of illness in Australia and has a substantial social and economic impact on individuals, families and the community. Findings from the recent Australian Burden of Disease Study showed that cancer as a disease group was the leading cause of burden in Australia in 2018, accounting for 18% of the total disease burden.

More reports and statistics on cancer can be found under Cancer screening.

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Latest findings

In 2021, an estimated 49,000 people will die from cancer in Australia, an average of 135 deaths per day

In 2021, lung cancer is expected to be responsible for more deaths than any other cancer, followed by colorectal cancer

In 2021, breast cancer is estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer, followed by prostate cancer

In 2021, an estimated 151,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia, an average of 413 cases per day

Highlights

150,800new cancer cases are estimated to be diagnosed in 2021—413 new diagnoses every day on average
3 in every 10deaths in Australia in 2020 were due to cancer
49,200people are estimated to die from cancer in 2021—135 deaths every day on average
Rare and less common cancers accounted for 30% of new cancer cases diagnosed and 42% of cancer deaths in 2017
Almost half (42%)of the national cancer burden is attributable to risk factors such as smoking, overweight and UV exposure
After adjusting for competing mortality, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 7 women will die from cancer by the age of 85
1 in 9hospitalisations in 2019–20 were related to cancer