The World Health Organization has warned that the annual number of new cancer cases worldwide could rise from an estimated 20.6 million in 2024 to nearly 35 million by 2050 unless countries strengthen prevention, early detection and access to treatment. Nearly 10 million people currently die from cancer each year—more than 26,000 every day—making it the world’s second-leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
The findings come from the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, developed jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The report examines the global cancer burden, prevention policies, health-system capacity, access to medicines and the experiences of patients, families and caregivers.
WHO said major scientific and medical advances have improved cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, but the benefits remain deeply unequal. Five years after a breast cancer diagnosis, about 87% of women in high-income countries are still alive, compared with approximately 42% in low-income countries. Fewer than one-third of countries include cancer care in their universal health coverage benefit packages.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a patient’s chances of surviving cancer should not depend on where they were born or how much they earn. He said the inequalities identified in the report resulted from policy choices and could be reversed through stronger, coordinated action.
Cancer burden varies sharply by region
Asia accounted for 50.7% of new cancer cases and 56.5% of cancer deaths worldwide in 2024, largely reflecting the region’s population size. Europe recorded 21% of global cases and 20% of deaths despite containing only about 9% of the world’s population. Many countries in Africa and parts of Asia report lower incidence rates but disproportionately high mortality.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death globally. Lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are among the most common cancers affecting men, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a substantial proportion of cases among women.
Nearly four in ten cancer cases are associated with preventable risk factors. These include tobacco and alcohol use, high body mass index, insufficient physical activity and infections such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori. WHO also warned that obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and air pollution are increasingly shaping the global cancer burden.
Progress made, but major gaps remain
Global tobacco use has fallen by 27% since 2010, helping reduce lung cancer cases and deaths in some regions. Vaccination, improved sanitation and stronger infection-control measures have also contributed to declines in some infection-related cancers.
The proportion of countries with national cancer-control plans has increased from 50% in 2010 to 82%. In high-income countries, early-detection programmes identify most breast cancers, while 74% of women have been screened for cervical cancer. Registered cancer clinical trials also grew at an average annual rate of 7.3% between 2005 and 2021.
However, access to essential treatment remains highly unequal. Availability of the 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from only 9% to 54% in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68% to 94% in high-income countries.
The disease also creates severe financial, emotional and social pressures. WHO’s first global survey of people affected by cancer found that at least 45% experienced financial hardship and more than half reported mental health challenges. Nearly all caregivers reported some form of strain, including unpaid work and social isolation.
WHO is calling for cancer prevention and care to be incorporated into universal health coverage, alongside greater investment in trained health workers and stronger protection for patients and their families. The report also urges governments to involve people affected by cancer in decision-making and to direct research and innovation toward public health needs and equitable access.
The agency said decisions made today will determine how heavily future generations are affected by cancer, stressing that sustained investment, prevention and fair access to care could reduce deaths and narrow the survival gap between richer and poorer countries.
