Last updated November 24, 2024
Cancer, a term encompassing a range of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth, remains a significant health concern globally. In varying levels, this group of diseases impacts every country on Earth, creating a significant burden on health systems and societies. In this article, we will delve deeper into the incidence rate of cancer across countries.
The data indicates that some nations bear a heavier burden than others, and patterns emerge that warrant further study. Though cancer spares no geographical location, cultural group, or socio-economic class, differences in lifestyle, genetic predispositions, and access to healthcare can profoundly influence cancer rates.
Some key findings from the data include:
The countries with the highest cancer rates in the world are Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United States, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, France, and Hungary. Australia tops the list with the highest cancer rate of 452.4 per 100,000 people. New Zealand follows with a cancer rate of 422.9 per 100,000 individuals, while Ireland's cancer rate is 372.8 per 100,000 population.
The United States ranks fourth with a cancer incidence rate of 362.2 per 100,000. Denmark follows closely with a cancer rate of 351.1 per 100,000. Netherlands and Belgium rank 6th and 7th respectively, with rates of 349.6 and 349.2. Canada reports 348.0 cases of cancer per 100,000 people, making it the 8th highest in terms of cancer rates.
France and Hungary round out the top ten, with France recording a cancer rate of 341.9 per 100,000 people and Hungary having a cancer rate of 338.2 per 100,000 individuals.
10 Countries with the Highest Cancer Rates per 100k people:
At the top of this list is Niger, with a significantly low cancer rate of 78.4 per 100,000. Niger is a West African country with a predominantly rural population that may not share the same lifestyle and diet as those in high-income countries. Similarly, Gambia comes in second with 79.5 cases per 100,000 people, reflecting a minimal cancer incidence rate among its population.
Nepal and Bhutan, both countries situated in the Himalayan region, report low rates of 80.9 and 81.9 respectively. Their traditional diets, less exposure to certain environmental factors, or potentially even underreporting due to less advanced healthcare infrastructure may contribute to these numbers.
Other countries that feature on this list with comparatively low cancer rates include the Republic of Congo (84.4), Timor Leste (89.7), and Tajikistan, also clocking in at 89.7. Djibouti's incidence rate stands at a rate of 91.0 per 100,000 people.
Lastly, both South Sudan and Sudan, despite being tormented by conflicts and economic challenges, show surprisingly low cancer rates of 94.7 and 95.7 respectively. Whether these low rates can indeed be attributed to healthier lifestyle choices, genetic factors, or, more cynically, to data insufficiencies, is a topic warranting further exploration.
Ten Countries with the Lowest Cancer Rates (Per 100k People):
108.8
Ranked in World
#148
148.1
Ranked in World
#99
135.3
Ranked in World
#111
130.6
Ranked in World
#119
218.2
Ranked in World
#55
202.9
Ranked in World
#63
452.4
Ranked in World
#1
255.7
Ranked in World
#38
141.8
Ranked in World
#101
188.9
Ranked in World
#71
112.2
Ranked in World
#139
106.2
Ranked in World
#156
219.2
Ranked in World
#53
252.8
Ranked in World
#39
349.2
Ranked in World
#7
120.9
Ranked in World
#130
95.8
Ranked in World
#166
81.9
Ranked in World
#173
137.5
Ranked in World
#107
227.1
Ranked in World
#50
109.5
Ranked in World
#146
215.4
Ranked in World
#59
247.1
Ranked in World
#41
112.0
Ranked in World
#140
135.5
Ranked in World
#110
135.3
Ranked in World
#113
127.6
Ranked in World
#125
348.0
Ranked in World
#8
100.4
Ranked in World
#162
102.3
Ranked in World
#160
180.9
Ranked in World
#75
204.8
Ranked in World
#62
182.3
Ranked in World
#73
111.8
Ranked in World
#141
188.7
Ranked in World
#72
217.1
Ranked in World
#56
256.7
Ranked in World
#37
292.6
Ranked in World
#22
102.9
Ranked in World
#159
351.1
Ranked in World
#5
91.0
Ranked in World
#169
172.4
Ranked in World
#79
154.6
Ranked in World
#91
159.4
Ranked in World
#87
129.6
Ranked in World
#122
110.1
Ranked in World
#145
100.8
Ranked in World
#161
278.5
Ranked in World
#27
127.9
Ranked in World
#124
106.7
Ranked in World
#154
169.7
Ranked in World
#80
271.2
Ranked in World
#29
341.9
Ranked in World
#9
216.2
Ranked in World
#57
240.4
Ranked in World
#45
115.8
Ranked in World
#136
79.5
Ranked in World
#175
196.1
Ranked in World
#68
313.2
Ranked in World
#15
115.9
Ranked in World
#135
264.7
Ranked in World
#33
258.6
Ranked in World
#36
178.1
Ranked in World
#76
123.1
Ranked in World
#129
116.6
Ranked in World
#134
107.2
Ranked in World
#153
141.5
Ranked in World
#102
137.9
Ranked in World
#106
133.7
Ranked in World
#116
338.2
Ranked in World
#10
265.1
Ranked in World
#32
97.1
Ranked in World
#163
141.1
Ranked in World
#103
152.7
Ranked in World
#95
134.9
Ranked in World
#114
372.8
Ranked in World
#3
240.7
Ranked in World
#44
292.6
Ranked in World
#21
198.8
Ranked in World
#66
285.1
Ranked in World
#26
155.3
Ranked in World
#89
166.9
Ranked in World
#82
149.2
Ranked in World
#97
115.7
Ranked in World
#137
130.6
Ranked in World
#120
165.8
Ranked in World
#83
301.5
Ranked in World
#17
156.8
Ranked in World
#88
109.0
Ranked in World
#147
119.3
Ranked in World
#132
132.2
Ranked in World
#118
293.4
Ranked in World
#20
291.9
Ranked in World
#23
124.3
Ranked in World
#127
154.2
Ranked in World
#92
143.9
Ranked in World
#100
123.7
Ranked in World
#128
140.3
Ranked in World
#105
244.6
Ranked in World
#42
248.7
Ranked in World
#40
108.6
Ranked in World
#150
155.0
Ranked in World
#90
140.4
Ranked in World
#104
227.0
Ranked in World
#51
215.6
Ranked in World
#58
290.2
Ranked in World
#24
148.3
Ranked in World
#98
135.3
Ranked in World
#112
136.8
Ranked in World
#108
198.3
Ranked in World
#67
80.9
Ranked in World
#174
349.6
Ranked in World
#6
313.7
Ranked in World
#14
422.9
Ranked in World
#2
135.7
Ranked in World
#109
78.4
Ranked in World
#176
110.4
Ranked in World
#144
161.5
Ranked in World
#86
220.4
Ranked in World
#52
327.5
Ranked in World
#11
103.8
Ranked in World
#158
110.4
Ranked in World
#143
151.0
Ranked in World
#96
199.4
Ranked in World
#65
191.0
Ranked in World
#70
176.3
Ranked in World
#77
162.0
Ranked in World
#85
267.3
Ranked in World
#31
261.8
Ranked in World
#35
218.6
Ranked in World
#54
107.2
Ranked in World
#152
84.4
Ranked in World
#172
263.1
Ranked in World
#34
234.3
Ranked in World
#47
113.9
Ranked in World
#138
174.3
Ranked in World
#78
236.4
Ranked in World
#46
126.4
Ranked in World
#126
96.4
Ranked in World
#165
119.5
Ranked in World
#131
299.2
Ranked in World
#18
233.0
Ranked in World
#48
296.8
Ranked in World
#19
309.0
Ranked in World
#16
130.4
Ranked in World
#121
118.1
Ranked in World
#133
209.5
Ranked in World
#61
242.7
Ranked in World
#43
94.7
Ranked in World
#168
277.2
Ranked in World
#28
105.4
Ranked in World
#157
95.7
Ranked in World
#167
167.5
Ranked in World
#81
288.6
Ranked in World
#25
317.6
Ranked in World
#13
89.7
Ranked in World
#170
133.7
Ranked in World
#115
164.0
Ranked in World
#84
89.7
Ranked in World
#171
111.7
Ranked in World
#142
193.9
Ranked in World
#69
133.5
Ranked in World
#117
231.5
Ranked in World
#49
128.8
Ranked in World
#123
153.8
Ranked in World
#93
212.8
Ranked in World
#60
106.7
Ranked in World
#155
319.9
Ranked in World
#12
362.2
Ranked in World
#4
269.3
Ranked in World
#30
108.1
Ranked in World
#151
108.8
Ranked in World
#149
181.1
Ranked in World
#74
97.0
Ranked in World
#164
153.5
Ranked in World
#94
200.4
Ranked in World
#64
Region ↕ | Cancer Rate↕ |
---|---|
108.8 | |
148.1 | |
135.3 | |
130.6 | |
218.2 | |
202.9 | |
452.4 | |
255.7 | |
141.8 | |
188.9 | |
112.2 | |
106.2 | |
219.2 | |
252.8 | |
349.2 | |
120.9 | |
95.8 | |
81.9 | |
137.5 | |
227.1 | |
109.5 | |
215.4 | |
247.1 | |
112.0 | |
135.5 | |
135.3 | |
127.6 | |
348.0 | |
100.4 | |
102.3 | |
180.9 | |
204.8 | |
182.3 | |
111.8 | |
188.7 | |
217.1 | |
256.7 | |
292.6 | |
102.9 | |
351.1 | |
91.0 | |
172.4 | |
154.6 | |
159.4 | |
129.6 | |
110.1 | |
100.8 | |
278.5 | |
127.9 | |
106.7 | |
169.7 | |
271.2 | |
341.9 | |
216.2 | |
240.4 | |
115.8 | |
79.5 | |
196.1 | |
313.2 | |
115.9 | |
264.7 | |
258.6 | |
178.1 | |
123.1 | |
116.6 | |
107.2 | |
141.5 | |
137.9 | |
133.7 | |
338.2 | |
265.1 | |
97.1 | |
141.1 | |
152.7 | |
134.9 | |
372.8 | |
240.7 | |
292.6 | |
198.8 | |
285.1 | |
155.3 | |
166.9 | |
149.2 | |
115.7 | |
130.6 | |
165.8 | |
301.5 | |
156.8 | |
109.0 | |
119.3 | |
132.2 | |
293.4 | |
291.9 | |
124.3 | |
154.2 | |
143.9 | |
123.7 | |
140.3 | |
244.6 | |
248.7 | |
108.6 | |
155.0 | |
140.4 | |
227.0 | |
215.6 | |
290.2 | |
148.3 | |
135.3 | |
136.8 | |
198.3 | |
80.9 | |
349.6 | |
313.7 | |
422.9 | |
135.7 | |
78.4 | |
110.4 | |
161.5 | |
220.4 | |
327.5 | |
103.8 | |
110.4 | |
151.0 | |
199.4 | |
191.0 | |
176.3 | |
162.0 | |
267.3 | |
261.8 | |
218.6 | |
107.2 | |
84.4 | |
263.1 | |
234.3 | |
113.9 | |
174.3 | |
236.4 | |
126.4 | |
96.4 | |
119.5 | |
299.2 | |
233.0 | |
296.8 | |
309.0 | |
130.4 | |
118.1 | |
209.5 | |
242.7 | |
94.7 | |
277.2 | |
105.4 | |
95.7 | |
167.5 | |
288.6 | |
317.6 | |
89.7 | |
133.7 | |
164.0 | |
89.7 | |
111.7 | |
193.9 | |
133.5 | |
231.5 | |
128.8 | |
153.8 | |
212.8 | |
106.7 | |
319.9 | |
362.2 | |
269.3 | |
108.1 | |
108.8 | |
181.1 | |
97.0 | |
153.5 | |
200.4 |