Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Cancer in Latin America - Statistics & Facts
Cancer is among the leading health concerns in the world. It accounted for nearly ten million deaths in 2022, and is forecast to reach close to 20 million deaths by 2050, continuously burdening public health and affecting people all over the world. In Latin America, an average of 172 new cancer cases and approximately 87 cancer deaths per 100,000 inhabitants were reported in 2022, with Uruguay the most affected country, and more populated nations such as Brazil and Mexico accounting for the highest number of cases. Within the region, prostate and breast cancer are the most prevalent types of cancers. These categories are also the ones with the highest incidence rates and account for a high proportion of total cancer deaths.
Preventing cancer in the region
Numerous preventable underlying factors have been identified as contributing to cancer. Smoking is one of the best-known. In Latin America, some countries, such as Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina, show a prevalence of daily smoking estimated at at least a fourth of the population. Additionally, disordered eating habits, especially those leading people to overweight and obesity, are proven risks for cancer. Such conditions represent a major health concern in the region, where in several countries more than 40 percent of the population is forecast to suffer from obesity by 2035. Alcohol consumption is also prevalent in a number of Latin American countries. The region’s per capita consumption was estimated at around 50 liters in 2023 and is forecast to increase in the coming years. Addressing structures influencing these factors, along with supplementary measures including HPV vaccination coverage and the promotion of healthy habits such as regular exercise, could prove useful for the prevention of cancer in the region.Medical technology
Even though cancer mortality rates may greatly vary depending on their type and severity, average death rates due to this disease have been decreasing over the last years in Latin America. One of the main reasons for this is medical technology advances and a broader usage of new equipment in cancer detection and treatment. Still, the Latin American region lags behind in the adoption of such technological developments. For example, an estimated one in four hospitals in Latin America have CT scanners, and a lower number of hospitals have mammography systems. Furthermore, the share of hospitals with radiotherapy equipment in the region stands at only one percent. Latin America’s health care system must therefore increase its adoption of such medical technologies in order to continue and improve cancer treatment in the region.
