Published 08 Aug, 2022

Australia’s states and territories have legislation mandating the notification of cancer diagnoses, with national cancer incidence data being available from these sources for the years 1982 to 2020. Projected estimates of annual cancer diagnoses are also available for the years to 2024 in this report. Data were extracted from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Australian Cancer Database 2020.1,2 International data were taken from the latest GLOBOCAN estimates produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and disseminated as Cancer Today on the Global Cancer Observatory.3,4

Key Messages

Cancer incidence in Australia is increasing 

From 1982 to 2024, cancer incidence recorded in Australia increased from 47,407 cases to 169,478 cases. Age-standardized rates (to the 2024 Australian population) per 100,000 people increased from 473.7 to 624.2.  

The top five most commonly reported cancers in Australia have remained unchanged 

In 2024, the top five estimated for Australia in order are prostate cancer, breast cancer, melanoma of the skin, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. These 5 cancers were also the top 5 leading cancers in 1982 but with a different ranking order. 

It should be noted that Australia has an extraordinarily high incidence of basal carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and other non-melanoma skin cancers that are not routinely recorded by cancer registries. These are the most common cancers affecting the Australian population.

Cancer incidence rates were consistently higher in males than females

In 2024, age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 recorded in males and in females was estimated to be 728.7 cases and 534.2 cases, respectively. Similarly in 1982 and 2000, these rates were 602.0 and 712.7 in males and 393.3 and 486.5 cases in females. 

Cancer incidence rates are increasing in young populations aged 30 to 49 years

In the age range of 30-39 years, recorded age-specific incidence rates per 100,000 people increased from 101.0 in 1982 to 120.5 in 2000 and to an estimated 141.1 in 2024.

In the age range of 40-49 years, recorded age-specific incidence rates per 100,000 people increased from 244.8 in 1982 to 280.1 in 2000 and to an estimated 323.2 in 2024.

Australia was one of the countries having highest rates in the world for breast, colorectal, prostate, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanomas. In contrast, Australia was one of the lowest in cervical cancer incidence.

    Charts
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia
      Table caption
      Column one shows the year and subsequent columns show no. of diagnoses for each cancer type for males, females and persons.
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia
      Table caption
      Age-standardised cancer incidence by sex, 1982 to 2017
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia
      Table caption
      Age-specific cancer incidence, by sex, 2017
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia
      Table caption
      Incidence by age group, 1982 to 2017
    • Table caption
      Age-specific incidence rate, by sex and Indigenous status, 2012–2016
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer in Australia 2021.
      • Remoteness areas are classified according to the Australian Standard Geography Standard (ASGS) 2011.
      • Rates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.
      Table caption
      Age-standardised incidence by remoteness area and sex, 2012–2016
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer in Australia 2021.
      • SES area is classified according to the 2011 SEIFA quintile classifications, see 'About the data' for more detail.
      • Rates are age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.
      Table caption
      Age-standardised incidence by socioeconomic status, 2012–2016
    • Notes
      • Data sourced from International Agency for Research on Cancer GLOBOCAN 2020 database.
      • Rates are age-standardised to the WHO world standard population.
      Table caption
      Age-standardised incidence comparison - selected countries

    Cancer incidence data, as presented in this report, refer to the numbers of new cases of cancer diagnosed each year and recorded in cancer registries. They can be presented as absolute numbers or as rates. Rates are often age-standardized to remove the influence of age in comparisons across different populations, as the likelihood of being diagnosed with most types of cancer increases with age. Age-specific rates are also used to compare cancer incidence between different age groups.1

    Age-standardized and age-specific data from Australia’s population-based registries are made available each year by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) for individual cancer types and cancer groupings. 

    Estimated international cancer incidence data are available through the IARC Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) project. These data are age-standardized to the age structure of the world population.3 International comparisons are made using this indicator for 15 economically developed countries across five continents. These countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, France (metropolitan), Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, United States of America (USA) and Uruguay.

    All cancers combined (ICD-10 codes C00–C96, D45, D46, D47.1, and D47.3–D47.5)

    By 2024, it is estimated there will be 169,478 recorded cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia (93,504 males and 75,974 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was estimated to be 624.2 per 100,000 in 2024. Males had higher cancer incidence recorded than females (728.7 vs 534.2 per 100,000).

    Cancer incidence rates increased with age. The highest rate recorded was for ages 85-89 years at 2,857.7 cases per 100,000 persons (estimated in 2024). In females, the highest rate recorded was for ages 85-89 years at 2,289.2 cases per 100,000 females whereas in males, the highest rate recorded was for ages 90 years and over at 3,716.1 cases per 100,000 males. 

    Improvements in cancer detection would be expected in general to result in increasing incidence rates for a period of time and potentially younger ages at diagnosis (as the cancer is diagnosed earlier than would otherwise have occurred).1

    International comparisons

    In 2022, compared with the other selected developed countries, Australia was estimated to have the highest age-standardized incidence rate recorded for all cancers combined (322.4 cases per 100,000), followed by France and The Netherlands (316.6 and 312.4 cases per 100,000, respectively). This age-standardized incidence rate was the second-highest estimated in males (344.4 cases per 100,000) after France (355.1 cases per 100,000) and in females (303.8 cases per 100,000) after the Netherlands (310.6 cases per 100,000).

    Bladder cancer (ICD-10 code C67)

    Bladder was estimated to be the 11th most commonly diagnosed cancer recorded among all persons in Australia in 2024.5

    By 2024, it is estimated there will be 3,319 cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,529 males and 790 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was estimated to be 12.2 in 2024. The incidence in males was about 4 times higher than in females (20.3 vs 5.3 per 100,000, respectively). The incidence rate for bladder cancer increased with older age, peaking at ages 90 years and over (134.7 cases per 100,000).  This pattern was the same in both females and males.

    International comparisons

    In 2022, the estimated age-standardized rates of bladder cancer in Australia ranked 10th among the 15 developed countries (7.4 cases per 100,000 vs 17.4 cases in the Netherlands with the highest rates). It had the same rank in females (3.2 cases per 100,000) and the 11th rank in males (12.0 cases per 100,000).

    Brain cancer (ICD-10 code C71)/Brain and other Central Nervous System cancers (ICD-10 code C70-72, C75.1-C75.3)

    Brain cancer was estimated to be the 17th most commonly diagnosed cancer recorded among all persons in Australia in 2024.

    By 2024, it is estimated that there will be 1,997 cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,198 males and 799 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was estimated to be 7.4 in 2024 (9.2 for males and 5.7 for females per 100,000).

    The incidence rate for brain cancer generally increases with age, with a peak at ages 85-89 years (26.8 cases per 100,000). This increase was similar in females with a peak at ages 85-89 years (22.7 cases per 100,000). In males, the rate increased to the peak at 37.1 cases per 100,000 in ages 90+ years. 

    By 2024, it is estimated there will be 2,138 cases of brain cancer and other Central Nervous System cancers diagnosed in Australia (1,280 males and 858 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was estimated to be 7.9 in 2024 (9.8 for males and 6.1 for females) per 100,000.

    International comparisons

    International data are available for brain and central nervous system cancers combined (ICD-10 codes C70–72). In 2022, the estimated age-standardized rates for brain and central nervous system cancers in Australia ranked the fourth-highest for incidence at 5.6 cases per 100,000 after France (6.4 cases per 100,000), Ireland and Sweden (both at 6.1 cases per 100,000). Australian females ranked equal 5th among comparison countries with Canada and the United Kingdom at 4.6 cases per 100,000 after Sweden, Ireland, France, and the United States. Males had the same incidence as for Sweden (3rd rank) at 6.7 cases per 100,000 after France (7.9 cases) and Ireland (7.0 cases) among comparison countries.

    See further details in reference 6.6

    Breast cancer (in females) (ICD-10 code C50)

    In 2024, breast cancer was projected to be the leading cancer reported in females and the 2nd most commonly reported cancer in Australia among all persons.5

    There were 20,973 new cases of breast cancer projected in females with an age-standardized incidence rate of 148.9 cases per 100,000 females. Breast cancer accounts for 27.6% of the estimated all cancers diagnoses reported for all cancer in females in 2024.1,2 The incidence rate for breast cancer increases with age, peaking at age 70-74 years (462.0 cases per 100,000 females), followed by ages 65-69 years (408.0 cases per 100,000 females).

    International comparisons

    In 2022, the age-standardized rate of breast cancer in Australian females (101.5 cases per 100,000) (using the WHO population as the reference) was the third-highest alongside the rate for the Netherlands (101.6 cases per 100,000) and France (105.4 cases per 100,000).

    Cervical cancer (ICD-10 code C53)

    Cervical cancer was estimated to be the 13th most commonly reported cancer among females in Australia in 2024,5 with 1,030 new cases diagnosed in Australia. The age-standardized incidence rate was 7.4 cases per 100,000 females.

    Cervical cancer incidence was higher among women in their 30s and 40s than for other ages, with the highest incidence rates occurring at ages 35-39 (18.6 cases per 100,000) and 40-44 years (18.5 cases per 100,000).1,2

    International comparisons

    In 2022, compared with the 15 comparison countries, the estimated age-standardized rate for cervical cancer in Australia was the 2nd lowest rate encountered (5.3 cases per 100,000), surpassing by New Zealand (4.9 cases per 100,000). Uruguay had the highest incidence rate of 15.9 cases per 100,000.

    Colorectal cancer (ICD10 codes C18–C20, C26.0)

    Colorectal cancer was estimated to be the fourth most commonly reported cancer in Australia in 20245 with an age-standardized incidence rate of 57.2 cases per 100,000 persons (64.0 for males and 51.0 for females per 100,000). Colorectal cancer was ranked the 4th most commonly reported cancer in females and the 3rd most commonly reported in males.5 There were an estimated 15,542 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in Australia in 2024 (8,205 males and 7,337 females).1,3

    The incidence rate for colorectal cancer increases with age except for a marginal decrease between ages 50-54 and 55-59 years (from 62.4 to 58.8 per 100,000), and peaking at age 85-89 years (371.9 persons per 100,000 estimated for 2024). This pattern was the same in females and males. 

    Early-onset colorectal cancer has been observed in both sexes but more females under the age of 50 years were estimated to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer than males (age-specific incidence rate per 100,000 of 12.1 vs 11.0 cases in males, with an estimated 1,062 cases in females and 983 cases in males in 2024).1,7

    International comparisons

    In 2022, among the 15 selected comparison countries, Australia was ranked as having the 4th highest age-standardized rates for colorectal and anal cancer combined (C18-21) (34.6 cases per 100,000) after the Netherlands, New Zealand and Japan. Australian females (31.7 cases per 100,000) were ranked third following the Netherlands and New Zealand, whereas Australian males were ranked 6th (37.8 per 100,000).2

    More early-onset colorectal cancer (colorectal cancer among younger adults younger than 50 years at diagnosis) were reported recently in many high-income countries as the United States, Canada, and Australia.4

    See further details in reference 7.7

    Colon cancer (ICD-10 code C18)

    In 2024, there were an estimated 10,987 new cases of colon cancer reported in Australia (5,448 males and 5,539 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was 40.5 cases per 100,000 persons (42.7 for males and 38.4 for females per 100,000).

    Colon cancer rates increased with age and were significantly higher from people aged 60+ years, peaking at ages 85-89 years (302.6 cases per 100,000 persons). The pattern was the same in males and females at 304.4 and 301.2 cases per 100,000, respectively. More than 85% of the colorectal cancer cases diagnosed in people aged under 30 years occurred in the colon.1,7 

    No international comparison was available for this cancer.

    Rectal cancer including rectosigmoid junction (ICD-10 codes C19–C20)

    In 2024, there were an estimated 4,555 new cases of rectal cancer (including those in the rectosigmoid junction) estimated to be reported in Australia (2,757 males and 1,798 females). This corresponded with an age-standardized incidence rate of 16.8 cases per 100,000 persons. The incidence rate in males was 1.7 times higher than in females (21.4 vs 12.6 per 100,000).

    The incidence rate generally increased with age, except for a marginal decrease between ages 50-54 and 55-59 years, and peaking in ages 90+ years at 75.6 cases per 100,000. This pattern was broadly similar in males and females with the highest rates projected to be 98.5 cases and 62.9 cases per 100,000, respectively.

    No international comparison was available for this cancer.

    Head and neck cancer, including lip (ICD codes C00-C14, C30–C32)

    In 2024, there were an estimated 5,531 new cases of head and neck cancer (including lip) reported in Australia (4,046 males and 1,485 females). The age-standardized incidence rate was 20.4 cases per 100,000 persons. The incidence rate in males was triple that in females (31.2 vs 10.5 per 100,000).

    The incidence rate of head and neck cancer (including lip) increased with age since ages 20-24 years, with the highest at ages 80-84 years at 67.2 cases per 100,000, which then decreased to 57.3 in ages 90 years and over. This pattern was similar in females with a peak of 41.9 cases per 100,000 in ages 80-84 and 85-89 years. The highest rate was in males aged 70-74 years at 100.5 cases per 100,000.

    No international comparison was available for this cancer.

    Liver cancer (ICD-10 code C22)

    Liver cancer was estimated to be the 12th most common cancer reported in Australia in 2024,5 with 3,208 new cases reported in Australia (2,336 males and 872 females). Liver cancer is estimated to the 9th most common cancer in males and the 17th most common in females in 2024.

    In 2024, the estimated age-standardized incidence rate will be 11.8 cases per 100,000 persons. The projected rate in males will be triple that in females (18.2 vs 6.1 per 100,000).

    This incidence rate was significantly higher in people aged 50+ years, with a peak at ages 85-89 years of 62.4 cases per 100,000 persons. This pattern was the same in both males and females, with corresponding rates for ages 85-89 years of 90.0 cases and 41.9 cases per 100,000 respectively.

    International comparisons

    In 2022, among the 15 comparison countries, the estimated age-standardized rate for liver cancer for Australia (7.2 cases per 100,000) was the 5th highest after Korea, Singapore, Japan and France. Australian males were ranked the 5th highest (11.4 cases per 100,000) whereas in females, it was in a lower range (9th) at 3.2 cases per 100,000.

    Lung cancer (ICD-10 codes C33–C34)

    Lung cancer was estimated to be the fifth most commonly reported cancer in Australia in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 of 55.7 cases in total (60.7 for males and 51.7 for females). Lung cancer was estimated to be ranked 3rd highest in incidence for females and 4th highest in males in 2024.

    In 2024, there were an estimated 15,122 new cases in Australia (7,718 males and 7,404 females). The incidence rate for lung cancer increased significantly from the age of 50 years, peaking at 85-89 years (306.4 cases per 100,000). The highest rates applied to males aged 85-89 years (404.1 cases per 100,000) and to females aged 75-79 years (284.8 cases per 100,000).

    International comparisons

    In 2022, among the 15 comparison countries, the estimated age-standardized rate for lung cancer in Australia (24.1 cases per 100,000 persons) was ranked among the lowest 4 countries, along with Sweden and Chile. This pattern was similar in males at 27.1 cases per 100,000, whereas in females, lung cancer was in the lower middle range with 21.5 cases per 100,000.

    Melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 code C43)

    Melanoma of the skin was estimated to be the third most commonly diagnosed cancer reported in Australia in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence of 69.8 cases per 100,000. There were an estimated 18,964 new cases in Australia (11,034 males and 7,930 females). Melanoma of the skin was estimated to rank 2nd among the most commonly reported cancers in males and females in 2024.5 The age-standardized incidence of melanoma of skin in males was 1.5 times higher than in females. (85.7 vs 56.0 per 100,000, respectively).

    The incidence rate was significantly higher for ages from 30 years, peaking at 85-89 years (295.9 cases per 100,000). This pattern was similar in males (416.5 cases per 100,000) and females (206.3 cases per 100,000).

    International comparisons

    In 2022, Australia was estimated to have the highest rate among the 15 selected developed countries (37.0 cases per 100,000), followed by New Zealand (29.8 cases per 100,000). The pattern was similar in males and females with estimated age-standardized rates of 45.9 cases and 29.1 cases per 100,000, respectively.

    Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ICD-10 codes C82–C86)

    In 2024, there were an estimated 6,942 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma reported in Australia (3,972 males and 2,970 females). This cancer was estimated to be the 6th most commonly diagnosed cancer among all persons in Australia in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 of 25.6 cases (31.0 for males and 20.7 for females per 100,000). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma was estimated to be the 5th most commonly reported cancer in males and the 7th most commonly reported in females in 2024.5

    Estimated incidence rates increased with age, peaking at ages 85-9 years (144.8 cases per 100,000). This pattern was similar in females and males at 116.6 and 182.6 cases per 100,000, respectively.

    International comparisons

    International data are available for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ICD-10 codes C82–86 and C88). In 2022, the age-standardized incidence rate was ranked 2nd highest in Australia although essentially the same as in the United States among the 15 comparison countries (12.4 cases and 12.5 cases per 100,000, respectively). The pattern was similar in males and females (ranked 3rd) with estimated age-standardized rates of 14.7 cases and 10.2 cases per 100,000, respectively.

    Oesophageal cancer (ICD-10 code C15)

    Oesophageal cancer was estimated to be the 20th most commonly recorded cancer in Australia in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence rate of 6.6 cases per 100,000 persons.
    In 2024, there were 1,785 estimated new cases in Australia (1,323 males and 462 females). This cancer was estimated to be the 14th most commonly reported cancer in males in 2024.5 The age-standardized incidence in males was more than triple that in females (10.3 vs 3.2 per 100,000).

    The incidence increased with age and was significantly higher for ages of 50+ years than for younger people. Incidence peaked in the age range of 85-89 years (37.0 cases per 100,000). The pattern by age was similar in females with the highest rate of 24.1 cases per 100,000 occurring at ages 85-89 years. The highest rate was estimated in men aged 80-84 years at 58.9 cases per 100,000 in 2024.

    International comparisons

    In 2022, the estimated age-standardized rates for oesophageal cancer in Australian males and females were in the lower middle range (both ranked 9th) among the 15 comparison countries, with rates of 5.1 for males and 1.5 for females per 100,000, respectively.

    Ovarian cancer (ICD-10 code C56)/Ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube (ICD-10 code C56 (all histology types) and C57.0, C57.8 (histology types 8441, 8460, 8461)

    Ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube were estimated to be the nineth most commonly reported cancers in Australian females in 20245 with an age-standardized incidence at 12.7 cases per 100,000 and 1,805 new cases projected.  

    Projected data for ovarian cancer as such are not available for 2024.1,2 In 2020, the age-standardized incidence of ovarian cancer was 10.4 cases per 100,000 with 1,355 new cases reported. 

    For ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube, the rate increases with age, being substantially higher from age 40 years than for younger women, and peaking at ages 80-84 years with an estimated 54.1 cases per 100,000 in 2024.

    For ovarian cancer as such, the rate was significantly higher from age 40 years than for younger women, peaking at ages 85-89 years with 49.4 cases per 100,000 in 2020.

    The ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube group was believed to provide a useful representation of ovarian cancer as it was historically understood.1,8

    International comparisons

    International data are available for ovarian cancer (ICD-10 code C56). In 2022, the estimated age-standardized incidence rate in Australian females was the fifth lowest (7.8 females per 100,000) among the 15 comparison countries. The highest rate was in Singapore at 10.3 cases per 100,000.  

    See further details in reference 8.8

    Pancreatic cancer (ICD-10 code C25)

    Pancreatic cancer was estimated to be the 8th most commonly diagnosed cancer reported in Australia in 20245 with an age-standardized incidence of 17.1 cases per 100,000 persons (19.0 for males and 15.3 for females per 100,000). In 2024, there were an estimated 4,641 new cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,414 males and 2,227 females). Pancreatic cancer was estimated to be ranked the 8th most common cancer reported in both males and females in 2024.

    Pancreatic cancer is most commonly diagnosed in older ages, peaking at 131.5 cases per 100,000 persons in the age range of 90+ years. This pattern was the same in females at 131.4 cases per 100,000 in ages 90+ years and highest at ages 85-89 years in males (132.8 cases per 100,000). The median age at diagnosis was 73.0 years of age in 2020.1,9 

    International comparisons

    In 2022, the estimated age-standardized incidence rate for pancreatic cancer in Australia was the fifth- lower among the 15 comparison countries (7.0 cases per 100,000 persons) while the highest rate was for Uruguay (11.4 cases per 100,000 persons). Australian males were ranked the 3rd lowest (7.2 cases per 100,000), with females ranked the sixth-lowest in the range at 6.7 cases per 100,000.

    See further information in reference 9.9

    Prostate cancer (ICD-10 code C61)

    Prostate cancer was estimated to be the most common cancer reported in Australia in 2024.5 It was also the most common cancer reported in males with an estimated age-standardized incidence of 204.4 cases per 100,000.  In 2024, there were an estimated 26,368 new cases reported in Australia.

    The incidence rate for prostate cancer is estimated to increase with age, being significantly higher in ages of 40+ years than in younger males, and peaking at ages 75–79 years (936.4 cases per 100,000 males).

    International comparisons

    In 2022, the estimated age-standardized rate for prostate cancer in Australian males (77.2 cases per 100,000) was the 5th highest among the comparison countries after Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand and France.

    See further information in reference 10.10

    Unknown primary site (ICD-10 code C77-C80)

    Cancer of unknown primary site was estimated to be the 14th most common cancer reported in Australia in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence rate of 9.7 cases per 100,000 persons (11.7 for males and 7.9 for females per 100,000). Unknown primary site cancer was estimated to be ranked the 13th most commonly cancer reported in males and the 11th most commonly reported in females in 2024.5

    In 2024, there were an estimated 2,630 new cases diagnosed in Australia (1,442 males and 1,188 females). 

    The incidence rate was estimated to increase with age, peaking at ages 90+ years with 191.1 cases per 100,000 persons in 2024. This age pattern was similar in males and females with peaks in females aged 90+ years of 176.4 per 100,000 and in males of this age at 217.4 cases per 100,000. 

    International comparisons

    Comparable international data was not available for this cancer.

    Uterine cancer (ICD-10 codes C54–C55)

    Uterine cancer was estimated to be the fifth most commonly reported cancer in Australian females in 2024,5 with an age-standardized incidence of 24.3 cases per 100,000, which corresponds with a total of 3,422 new cases.

    The incidence rate for uterine cancer in 2024 is expected to increase with age, peaking at ages 75–79 years (82.9 cases per 100,000). This proportion increases substantially from ages 30-34 years.

    International comparisons

    International data are available for uterine cancer for the ICD-10 code of C54. In 2022, the age-standardized rate for uterine cancer in Australian females was in the middle of the range (7th) among the 15 comparison countries with14.6 cases per 100,000.

    All forms of cancer (except basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin) are notifiable in each Australian state and territory. In each jurisdiction, legislation exists such that hospitals, pathology laboratories and other institutions are required to report all cases of cancer to their jurisdictional central cancer registry. An agreed subset of the data collected by jurisdictional cancer registries is supplied annually to the AIHW with agreement of the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries, where it is compiled into the Australia Cancer Database (ACD). These registries are population-based and receive information on cancer diagnoses from a variety of sources, including hospitals, pathology laboratories, radiotherapy centres, and registers of births, deaths and marriages. The ACD currently contains incidence data on all cases of cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) diagnosed from 1982 to 2020 for all states and territories. Cancer reporting and registration is a dynamic process, and records in the state and territory cancer registries are modified if new information is received. As a result, the number of cancer cases reported by the AIHW for any particular year may change slightly over time and may not  align with state and territory reporting for the same years.1,11

    Cancer is classified by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Version 10 (ICD–10). This is a statistical classification, published by the World Health Organization, in which each morbid condition is assigned a unique code according to established criteria. The cancers in the ACD are coded using the 2nd revision of the 3rd edition of the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O-3.2). The ICD-O-3.2 codes can be mapped to the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10).11

    Projection methods rely on the assumption that past trends may be reasonably used to estimate future counts and rates. For most cancers, the 2021–2024 incidence estimates are projections based on 2011–2020 incidence data. For cancers where COVID-19 may have led to lower cancer incidence in 2020 (breast cancer, melanoma of the skin, colorectal cancer, colon cancer, rectosigmoid junction cancer, rectal cancer, appendiceal cancer, retroperitoneal and peritoneal cancer and thyroid cancer), it is likely the reduction may influence reliability of projections. For this reason, 2021–2024 incidence estimates are derived from 2010–2019 incidence data.1,11

    For prostate cancer, the incidence projection method was revised for the 2022 release of Cancer data in Australia (CdiA). AIHW excluded prostate cancer from the usual projection method and instead held the most recent rates (by age group) steady and applied population growth estimates for those age groups to arrive at the new projected case counts.10 Prostate-cancer projections use the 2019 age-specific rates and keeps these constant across the projection period. 
    Ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube form a new reporting category that is likely to be more closely aligned with how ovarian cancer was historically reported. Projections have been made for ‘ovarian cancer and serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube’ but not for ovarian cancer as such. This is because projections are based on the premise that trends occurring over the most recent 10 years are a reasonable basis from which to project future cancer rates. Unfortunately, there is too much uncertainty within the time series for the ovarian cancer incidence rate time series to provide a reasonable basis for projection of ovarian cancer as such.8

    For brain cancer, a time series was created with aims to remove potential under-diagnosis in the elderly in earlier years. Pre-1996 brain cancer incidence rates appear to be at most risk of lower incidence and mortality rates arising from potential under-diagnosis. By using the 1996 incidence rates for the elderly and applying these age-specific rates to earlier years, adjusted age-standardized incidence rates were derived. These rates are intended to provide an indication of the age-standardized rates, while avoiding possible under-diagnosis of the elderly, thereby giving a more comparable time series from which brain cancer trends may be examined.6
    The 36 individual cancer types estimated in GLOBOCAN 2022 include malignant neoplasms only, except for bladder cancer which may include carcinoma in situ, or tumours of uncertain or unknown behaviour, in the incidence (but not the mortality), depending on the definitions of malignancy used by the cancer registry. The category “non-melanoma skin cancer” (NMSC) excludes basal cell carcinomas in incidence figures.12

    Methodology

    Age-standardized and age-specific incidence rates are expressed per 100,000 population. The population data were sourced from the ABS using the most up-to-date estimates available at the time of creating the CdiA report.11 Incidence rates are based on the Australian population as at 30 June.1

    Age standardization1,11

    This standardization process removes the influence of age structure on the summary rate. In this Cancer Data in Australia (CdiA) report, the direct standardization approach presented by Jensen and colleagues (1991) was used. In addition to rates age-standardized to the 2001 Australian Standard Population, this CdiA report also includes rates age-standardized to 2024. The basic trend analysis between the two rates is often similar. However, the 2024 population is much older than the 2001 population. Cancer is generally more common in the older populations and accordingly, the 2024 age-standardized rates are often higher than 2001-based rates and thus more relevant to cancer today. The 2001 Australian Standard Population is available as the current Australian standard. World Health Organization and Segi age-standardized incidence rates are also available for international comparison.

    The 2024 to 2034 population estimates were sourced from the Centre of Population December 2023 update of the National age and sex structure, 2022–23 to 2033–34.

    Age-specific rates1,11 provide information on the incidence of a particular event in an age group relative to the total number of people at risk of that event in the same age group. It is calculated by dividing the number of events occurring in each specified age group by the corresponding ‘at-risk’ population in the same age group and then multiplying the result by a constant (for example, 100,000) to derive the rate. Age-specific rates are often expressed per 100,000 population. 

    International data12

    The Global Cancer Observatory (GCO) contains cancer incidence from cancer registries around the world. Various methodologies are applied to the GCO data differing by country and data availability. 

    International incidence data are age-standardized to the World Standard Population.12

    Data sources

    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia. Data. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/data 
       
    2. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today.  International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon, France. Accessed Dec 2024; https://gco.iarc.fr/today

    Activity in this area


    Data

    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia. Data. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/data
       
    2. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today.  International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon, France. Accessed Dec 2024; https://gco.iarc.fr/today
       

    References

    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data in Australia. Web report. Cat. no. CAN 122. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/about
       
    2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024.  Cancer data in Australia. Cancer incidence by age visualisation. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-incidence-by-age-visualisation
       
    3. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today.  International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon, France. Accessed Dec 2024; https://gco.iarc.fr/today
       
    4. Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024 May-Jun;74(3):229-263.
       
    5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024.  Cancer data in Australia. Cancer rankings data visualisation. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-rankings-data-visualisation
       
    6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data Commentary 4. A different view of brain cancer rate changes over time. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/a-different-view-of-brain-cancer-rate-changes-over
       
    7. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data Commentary 12. An overview of colorectal cancer in Australia. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/an-overview-of-colorectal-cancer-in-australia
       
    8. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data Commentary 5. Improving the understanding of ovarian cancer statistics. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/improving-the-understanding-of-ovarian-cancer-stat
       
    9. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data Commentary 3. How are pancreatic cancer rates changing? Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/how-are-pancreatic-cancer-rates-changing
       
    10. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data Commentary 9. Prostate cancer – projection method changes, updated long-term prostate cancer incidence projections. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/prostate-cancer-projection-method-changes-updated
       
    11. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024. Cancer data in Australia. Methods. Accessed Dec 2024; https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/technical-notes/methods
       
    12. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today.  International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon, France. Data & Methods. Accessed Dec 2024; https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data-sources-methods#title-inc

    Summary

    Cancer incidence in Australia is increasing overall

    From 1982 to 2017, cancer incidence in Australia increased from 47,466 cases to 139,413 cases.

    Indigenous persons experienced higher incidence rates for some cancers

    In 2012–2016, age-standardised incidence rates for all cancers combined (excluding non-melanoma cancers of the skin) were higher in Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous persons experienced higher age-standardised incidence rates than non-Indigenous persons for cancers of the bladder, cervix, head and neck, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas, unknown primary site, and uterus.

    Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in remote areas

    In 2012–2016, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in Remote and Very Remote areas combined, compared to Major Cities for cervical (49% higher), head and neck (68% higher), liver (13% higher), lung (21% higher), oesophagus (29% higher), and unknown primary site (44% higher) cancers.

    Cancer incidence rates for specific cancers were higher in the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) areas

    In 2012–2016, age-standardised incidence rates were higher in the lowest SES compared to the highest SES areas for all cancers combined (5% higher), bladder (20% higher), cervical (51% higher), colon (14% higher), colorectal (17% higher), head and neck (54% higher), liver (59% higher), lung (76% higher), oesophagus (34% higher), ovarian (11% higher), pancreatic (14% higher), rectum (23% higher), unknown primary site (54% higher) and uterus (16% higher) cancers.