As of November 2019, around 33 percent of people aged 16 years and older worldwide reported increasing their consumption of healthy foods to reduce their risk of getting cancer. This statistic illustrates the percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019.
Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019
Characteristic
Percentage of respondants
Increased consumption of healthy foods
33%
Reduced exposure to harmful UV rays
29%
Limited or avoided exposure to tobacco smoke
27%
Limited or avoided smoking or using tobacco products
27%
Limited or avoided consumption of sugar sweetened drinks
26%
Maintained a consistently healthy weight
25%
Limited or avoided alcohol consumption
23%
Engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and/or at least 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week
22%
Limited or avoided red or processed meats
20%
Participated in a cancer screening
14%
Currently vaccinated against Hepatitis B and/or the human papillomavirus (HPV)
12%
Other
2%
Have not done anything to reduce my risk of cancer
23%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of respondants33%33%29%29%27%27%27%27%26%26%25%25%23%23%22%22%20%20%14%14%12%12%2%2%23%23%8%8%Increased consumption of healthy foodsReduced exposure to harmful UV raysLimited or avoided exposure to tobacco smokeLimited or avoided smoking or using tobacco productsLimited or avoided consumption of sugar sweetened drinksMaintained a consistently healthy weightLimited or avoided alcohol consumptionEngaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity and/orat least 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each weekLimited or avoided red or processed meatsParticipated in a cancer screeningCurrently vaccinated against Hepatitis B and/or the humanpapillomavirus (HPV)OtherHave not done anything to reduce my risk of cancerPrefer not to say
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Respondents were from 20 countries around the world: Australia, Bolivia, Brazil,
Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain,
India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines,
Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey
and the United States.
Original Question: Have you taken any steps in the last 12 months to reduce your risk of developing cancer? If yes, what steps have you taken with the specific aim of reducing your risk of cancer? Please select all that apply.
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Union for International Cancer Control. (January 26, 2020). Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 26, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/
Union for International Cancer Control. "Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019." Chart. January 26, 2020. Statista. Accessed February 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/
Union for International Cancer Control. (2020). Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/
Union for International Cancer Control. "Percentage of People Aged 16 Years and Older Worldwide Who Took Select Steps to Reduce Their Cancer Risk as of 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Jan 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/
Union for International Cancer Control, Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/ (last visited February 26, 2025)
Percentage of people aged 16 years and older worldwide who took select steps to reduce their cancer risk as of 2019 [Graph], Union for International Cancer Control, January 26, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1214127/share-of-people-who-took-steps-to-reduce-cancer-risk-worldwide/
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