Cancer Cases Could Reach 35 Million by 2050, New Report Warns
Millions of people worldwide continue to bear the physical, emotional and financial burden of cancer, with the disease killing more than 26,000 people every day, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization.
The WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, estimates that cancer causes about 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths each year, making it the world’s second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Without urgent action, annual cancer cases are projected to rise to almost 35 million by 2050.
The report calls for a people-centred approach to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, warning that major disparities continue to deny millions access to lifesaving services.
“Whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noting that the inequalities highlighted in the report are preventable through stronger global action.
The report found stark differences in survival rates. While 87% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years in high-income countries, only about 42% do so in low-income countries. It also found that fewer than one in three countries include cancer care in their universal health coverage packages.
WHO’s first global survey of people affected by cancer revealed that at least 45% experience financial hardship, more than half face mental health challenges, and nearly all caregivers report significant strain, including unpaid caregiving responsibilities and social isolation.
Regionally, Asia accounted for more than half of all cancer cases (50.7%) and deaths (56.5%) in 2024, reflecting its large population. Europe, despite having only about 9% of the global population, recorded 21% of cancer cases and 20% of deaths. Many countries in Africa and parts of Asia continue to experience lower cancer incidence but disproportionately higher mortality rates.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, while nearly 40% of all cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity and infections including human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori.
Despite progress, including a 27% decline in tobacco use since 2010, expanded vaccination programmes and an increase in national cancer control plans from 50% to 82% of countries, the report says access to essential cancer medicines remains limited in many low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The report urges governments and partners to integrate cancer care into universal health coverage, strengthen social protection for patients and caregivers, and ensure equitable access to innovations in cancer prevention and treatment, warning that decisions made today will determine the global cancer burden for future generations.
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