Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer worldwide, accounting for 1.82 million deaths in 2022. The second most deadly form of cancer is colorectum cancer, followed by liver cancer. However, lung cancer is only the sixth leading cause of death worldwide, with heart disease and stroke accounting for the highest share of deaths.
Male vs. female cases
Given that lung cancer causes the highest number of cancer deaths worldwide, it may be unsurprising to learn that lung cancer is the most common form of new cancer cases among males. However, among females, breast cancer is by far the most common form of new cancer cases. In fact, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, followed by prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a very close second to lung cancer among the cancers with the highest rates of new cases among men.
Male vs. female deaths
Lung cancer is by far the deadliest form of cancer among males but is the second deadliest form of cancer among females. Breast cancer, the most prevalent form of cancer among females worldwide, is also the deadliest form of cancer among females. Although prostate cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among men, it is the fifth deadliest cancer. Lung, liver, stomach, colorectum, and oesophagus cancers all have higher deaths rates among males.
Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer
Characteristic
Number of cancer deaths
Trachea, bronchus and lung
1,817,469
Colorectum
904,019
Liver and intrahepatic bile ducts
758,725
Breast
666,103
Stomach
660,175
Pancreas
467,409
Oesophagus
445,391
Prostate
397,430
Cervix uteri
348,874
Leukaemia
305,405
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
250,679
Brain, central nervous system
248,500
Bladder
220,596
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of cancer deaths1,817,4691,817,469904,019904,019758,725758,725666,103666,103660,175660,175467,409467,409445,391445,391397,430397,430348,874348,874305,405305,405250,679250,679248,500248,500220,596220,596206,956206,956188,438188,438155,953155,953121,388121,388103,359103,35997,72397,72389,05589,05573,48273,48258,66758,66752,30552,30547,50747,50740,90240,90225,37125,37123,94223,94222,73322,73318,57918,57916,16916,16913,73813,7389,0689,0688,2408,240Trachea, bronchus and lungColorectumLiver and intrahepatic bile ductsBreastStomachPancreasOesophagusProstateCervix uteriLeukaemiaNon-Hodgkin lymphomaBrain, central nervous systemBladderOvaryLip, oral cavityKidneyMultiple myelomaLarynxCorpus uteriGallbladderNasopharynxMelanoma of skinOropharynxThyroidHypopharynxMesotheliomaSalivary glandsHodgkin lymphomaVulvaKaposi sarcomaPenisTestisVagina
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
WHO, & International Agency for Research on Cancer. (April 26, 2024). Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/
WHO, und International Agency for Research on Cancer. "Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer." Chart. April 26, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/
WHO, International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2024). Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/
WHO, and International Agency for Research on Cancer. "Number of Cancer Deaths Worldwide in 2022, by Major Type of Cancer." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/
WHO & International Agency for Research on Cancer, Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/ (last visited February 20, 2025)
Number of cancer deaths worldwide in 2022, by major type of cancer [Graph], WHO, & International Agency for Research on Cancer, April 26, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/288580/number-of-cancer-deaths-worldwide-by-type/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.