Received: 16 February 2021 Revised: 24 March 2021 Accepted: 25 March 2021

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33588

CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY

Cancer statistics for the year 2020: An overview

Jacques Ferlay1 | Murielle Colombet1 | Isabelle Soerjomataram1 |

2,3
Donald M. Parkin | Marion Piñeros1 | Ariana Znaor1 | Freddie Bray1

1
Cancer Surveillance Branch, International
Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon Cedex, Abstract
France Our study briefly reviews the data sources and methods used in compiling the
2
School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences,
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) GLOBOCAN cancer statistics
King's College London, London, UK
3
CTSU, Nuffield Department of Population for the year 2020 and summarises the main results. National estimates were cal-
Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK culated based on the best available data on cancer incidence from population-
Correspondence based cancer registries (PBCR) and mortality from the World Health Organization
Jacques Ferlay, Cancer Surveillance Branch, mortality database. Cancer incidence and mortality rates for 2020 by sex and age
International Agency for Research on Cancer,
150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex groups were estimated for 38 cancer sites and 185 countries or territories world-
08, France. wide. There were an estimated 19.3 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]:
Email: [email protected]
19.0-19.6 million) new cases of cancer (18.1 million excluding non-melanoma skin
cancer) and almost 10.0 million (95% UI: 9.7-10.2 million) deaths from cancer (9.9
million excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) worldwide in 2020. The most com-
monly diagnosed cancers worldwide were female breast cancer (2.26 million
cases), lung (2.21) and prostate cancers (1.41); the most common causes of can-
cer death were lung (1.79 million deaths), liver (830000) and stomach cancers
(769000).

KEYWORDS
cancer, global estimates, GLOBOCAN, incidence, mortality

1 | I N T RO DU CT I O N incidence and mortality for the year 2018.1 As previously, the

basic units for estimation are countries, together with aggregated
One of the remits of the Cancer Surveillance Branch (CSU) at the results globally and in 20 world regions, as defined by the United
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the regular Nations (UN).2 The estimates were developed for 38 cancer sites
provision of global estimates of the cancer burden. GLOBOCAN including other, and unspecified cancers, by sex and for 18 age
2020 updates the previously published estimates of cancer groups.
The methods of estimation together with the computation of
Abbreviations: ASR, age-standardised rate; CI5, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents; CSU,
uncertainty intervals continue to rely upon the best available data on
Cancer Surveillance Branch; GCO, Global Cancer Observatory; GICR, Global Initiative for
Cancer Registry Development; HDI, Human Development Index; IARC, International Agency cancer incidence and mortality nationally. Interactive facilities for the
for Research on Cancer; LMIC, low- and middle-income countries; NMSC, non-melanoma tabulation and graphical visualisation of the GLOBOCAN data set of
skin cancer; PBCR, population-based cancer registry; UI, uncertainty interval; UN, United
Nations; WHO, World Health Organization.
185 countries and world regions by sex can be accessed via the Global
As part of the latest International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) GLOBOCAN cancer Cancer Observatory (GCO) (https://gco.iarc.fr). A detailed description
statistics update, here the authors provide a comprehensive description of the data sources of the geographic variability observed across 20 world regions is pro-
and methods used to compute the global incidence and mortality estimates for 38 cancers
corresponding to the year 2020. The reported uncertainty intervals incorporate the major
vided elsewhere.3 Our study aims to summarise the data sources and
sources of error that may contribute to the uncertainty of these estimations. In addition to methods used in compiling the cancer incidence and mortality esti-
providing a global snapshot of the cancer burden in 2020, the estimates presented here can
mates for 2020 worldwide and presents a summary of the major
support the planning and prioritization of cancer control efforts at the global and national
levels. findings.

Int. J. Cancer. 2021;1–12. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/ijc © 2021 Union for International Cancer Control. 1
2 FERLAY ET AL.

2 | METHODS
What's new?
2.1 | Data
As part of the latest International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) GLOBOCAN cancer statistics update, here
The basic sources of the estimates are the high-quality cancer reg-
the authors provide a comprehensive description of the data
istry incidence data, as compiled in the Cancer Incidence in Five
sources and methods used to compute the global incidence
Continents (CI5) series,4 as well as new data sources most notably
and mortality estimates for 38 cancers corresponding to the
in sub-Saharan Africa via the expansion of the African Cancer Reg-
year 2020. The reported uncertainty intervals incorporate
istry Network,5 through targeted searches for new registry data
the major sources of error that may contribute to the uncer-
online, and the most recent mortality data from the World Health
tainty of these estimations. In addition to providing a global
Organization (WHO).6 As a result, the current estimates for 2020
snapshot of the cancer burden in 2020, the estimates pres-
are more accurate for several countries and some world areas than
ented here can support the planning and prioritization of
previously and therefore not fully comparable with previous sets of
cancer control efforts at the global and national levels.
estimation.
The geographical definition of the regions follows the UN country
classification, except for Cyprus, which is included in Southern Europe
rather than Western Asia. The source(s) of information used to
develop corresponding estimates of the national burden of cancer in 3. Rates were estimated from national mortality data by modelling,
each country is provided in Annex A. National population estimates using mortality-to-incidence ratios derived from:
for 2020 were extracted from the UN website.2  Cancer registries in that country (14 countries).
 Cancer registries in neighbouring countries (37 countries).
These comprised one model for Africa; one for Caribbean; two
2.2 | Methods of estimation for Asia; two for Europe and one for Oceania (see Annex C).
4. Age- and sex-specific national incidence rates for all cancers com-
Cancer incidence and mortality rates for 2020 by sex and for 18 age bined were obtained by averaging overall rates from neighbouring
groups (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, …, 75-79, 80-84, 85 and over) were countries. These rates were then partitioned to obtain the national
estimated for the 185 countries or territories of the world with incidence for specific sites using available cancer-specific relative
populations of more than 150 000 inhabitants in the same year.2 frequency data in the country (five countries).
Results are presented for 38 cancer sites or cancer types as defined 5. Rates were estimated as an average of those from selected neigh-
by the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases bouring countries (30 countries).
7
(ICD-10, version 2014) and for all cancers combined. These are listed
in Annex B. The estimates for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC)
exclude basal-cell carcinoma in incidence, while mortality includes 2.2.2 | Estimates of cancer mortality by country
deaths from all types of NMSC. The major difference with previous
editions of GLOBOCAN estimates with respect to the rubrics is that Depending on the coverage, completeness and degree of detail of the
gallbladder cancer (ICD-10 C23) now excludes neoplasms of extra mortality data available, four methods were utilised to estimate the
hepatic ducts (ICD-10 C24). sex- and age-specific mortality rates of cancer in a country:
The methods of incidence and mortality estimation and the com-
putation of uncertainty intervals are similar to those used in the previ- 1. Observed national mortality rates were projected to 2020
ous estimates.1 These are reproduced in Annex A and summarised (80 countries).
later. 2. The most recently observed mortality rates (national [2a] or sub-
national [2b]) were used as proxy for 2020 (21 countries).
3. Rates were estimated from the corresponding national incidence
2.2.1 | Estimates of cancer incidence by country estimates by modelling, using incidence-to-mortality ratios derived
from cancer registries in neighbouring countries (81 countries).
The methods used to estimate the sex- and age-specific incidence These comprised two models for Africa; three for Asia and one for
rates of cancer in a specific country in 2020 fall into the following Oceania (see Annex C).
broad categories, in order of priority: 4. Rates were estimated as an average of those from selected neigh-
bouring countries (three countries).
1. Observed national incidence rates were projected to 2020
(45 countries). Random fluctuations in the predicted age-specific incidence and mor-
2. The most recently observed incidence rates (national (2a) or sub- tality rates were smoothed using a lowess function, a locally weighted
national (2b)) were used as proxy for 2020 (54 countries). regression, by country, sex and cancer site. Estimates for the 20 world
T A B L E 1 Estimated new cancer cases and uncertainty intervals (95% UI, all ages, in thousands), age-standardised rates (ASRs, per 100 000) and cumulative risk to age 75 (percent) by sex and
cancer type worldwide, 2020

Both sexes Males Females

FERLAY ET AL.

Cum. Cum. Cum.

ASR risk ASR risk ASR risk
Cancer Numbers 95% UI (World) (0-74) Numbers 95% UI (World) (0-74) Numbers 95% UI (World) (0–74)
Lip, oral cavity 377.7 (362.4-393.7) 4.1 0.46 264.2 (251.2-277.9) 6.0 0.68 113.5 (105.6-122.0) 2.3 0.26
Salivary glands 53.6 (48.2-59.5) 0.6 0.06 29.7 (25.9-34.1) 0.7 0.07 23.9 (20.3-28.1) 0.5 0.05
Oropharynx 98.4 (91.3-106.1) 1.1 0.13 79.0 (72.8-85.9) 1.8 0.22 19.4 (16.3-23.0) 0.4 0.05
Nasopharynx 133.4 (124.7-142.6) 1.5 0.16 96.4 (89.1-104.3) 2.2 0.24 37.0 (32.6-42.0) 0.8 0.09
Hypopharynx 84.3 (76.7-92.6) 0.9 0.11 70.3 (63.5-77.8) 1.6 0.19 14.0 (10.8-18.1) 0.3 0.03
Oesophagus 604.1 (587.1-621.6) 6.3 0.78 418.4 (404.5-432.6) 9.3 1.15 185.8 (176.0-196.0) 3.6 0.44
Stomach 1089.1 (1066.6-1112.1) 11.1 1.31 719.5 (701.4-738.2) 15.8 1.87 369.6 (356.4-383.2) 7.0 0.79
Colon 1148.5 (1138.3-1158.8) 11.4 1.30 600.9 (593.6-608.3) 13.1 1.49 547.6 (540.5-554.8) 10.0 1.12
Rectum 732.2 (724.7-739.8) 7.6 0.91 443.4 (437.7-449.1) 9.8 1.18 288.9 (284.0-293.8) 5.6 0.65
Anus 50.9 (46.0-56.3) 0.5 0.06 21.7 (18.4-25.6) 0.5 0.06 29.2 (25.7-33.1) 0.6 0.07
Liver 905.7 (884.7-927.2) 9.5 1.11 632.3 (615.0-650.1) 14.1 1.65 273.4 (261.7-285.6) 5.2 0.60
Gallbladder 115.9 (108.3-124.1) 1.2 0.13 41.1 (36.6-46.0) 0.9 0.10 74.9 (68.8-81.6) 1.4 0.16
Pancreas 495.8 (489.0-502.7) 4.9 0.55 262.9 (258.0-267.8) 5.7 0.66 232.9 (228.1-237.8) 4.1 0.45
Larynx 184.6 (174.3-195.6) 2.0 0.25 160.3 (150.6-170.5) 3.6 0.45 24.4 (20.8-28.4) 0.5 0.06
Lung 2206.8 (2176.5-2237.4) 22.4 2.74 1435.9 (1410.9-1461.5) 31.5 3.78 770.8 (753.9-788.1) 14.6 1.77
Melanoma of skin 324.6 (314.2-335.4) 3.4 0.37 173.8 (166.4-181.6) 3.8 0.42 150.8 (143.5-158.4) 3.0 0.33
Non-melanoma skin 1198.1 (1056.5-1358.6) 11.0 1.06 722.3 (605.2-862.1) 15.1 1.40 475.7 (397.8-568.9) 7.9 0.75
Mesothelioma 30.9 (27.0-35.3) 0.3 0.03 21.6 (18.4-25.2) 0.5 0.05 9.3 (7.2-12.1) 0.2 0.02
Kaposi sarcoma 34.3 (26.0-45.2) 0.4 0.03 23.4 (17.1-32.0) 0.5 0.05 10.9 (6.0-19.6) 0.3 0.02
Breast 2261.4 (2244.3-2278.7) 47.8 5.20 — 2261.4 (2244.3–2278.7) 47.8 5.20
Vulva 45.2 (40.7-50.3) 0.9 0.09 — 45.2 (40.7–50.3) 0.9 0.09
Vagina 17.9 (14.7-21.8) 0.4 0.04 — 17.9 (14.7-21.8) 0.4 0.04
Cervix uteri 604.1 (582.0-627.1) 13.3 1.39 — 604.1 (582.0–627.1) 13.3 1.39
Corpus uteri 417.4 (410.4-424.4) 8.7 1.05 — 417.4 (410.4–424.4) 8.7 1.05
Ovary 314.0 (300.8-327.6) 6.6 0.73 — 314.0 (300.8–327.6) 6.6 0.73
Penis 36.1 (31.0-42.0) 0.8 0.09 36.1 (31.0–42.0) 0.8 0.09 —
Prostate 1414.3 (1395.3-1433.5) 30.7 3.86 1414.3 (1395.3–1433.5) 30.7 3.86 —
Testis 74.5 (68.2-81.3) 1.8 0.14 74.5 (68.2–81.3) 1.8 0.14 —
Kidney 431.3 (418.1-444.8) 4.6 0.52 271.2 (260.8-282.1) 6.1 0.70 160.0 (152.2-168.3) 3.2 0.36
Bladder 573.3 (557.2-589.8) 5.6 0.64 440.9 (426.8-455.4) 9.5 1.05 132.4 (124.9-140.4) 2.4 0.26
3

(Continues)
 4 FERLAY ET AL.

regions were obtained by the population-weighted average of the

(0–74)
0.31
1.02
0.07
0.52
0.17
0.41
0.61
0.39
18.55
17.94
incidence and mortality rates of the component countries. These rates

Cum.
risk
were applied to the corresponding population estimate for the region
for 2020 to obtain the estimated numbers of new cancer cases and
(World)

10.1

186.0
178.1
3.0

0.8
4.8
1.5
4.5
6.0
3.7
deaths in 2020. The rates were age-standardised rates (ASRs per
ASR

100 000 person-years) using the direct method and the World stan-
dard population as proposed by Segi8 and modified by Doll.9 The

(9035.1-9424.0)
(8568.9-8938.6)
cumulative risk of developing or dying from cancer before the age of
(131.6-148.5)
(442.7-455.3)

(234.8-245.8)

(195.5-215.0)
(274.4-298.5)
(181.0-202.3)
(31.2-37.3)

(72.3-83.7)
75 in the absence of competing causes of death was also calculated
95% UI

using the age-specific rates and expressed as a percentage.4

Numbers
Females

2.2.3 | Uncertainty intervals

34.1

77.8
139.8
448.9

240.2

205.0
286.2
191.3
9227.5
8751.8
Uncertainty intervals (95% UI) of the estimated sex- and site-specific
(0-74)
0.40
0.33
0.10
0.73
0.25
0.59
0.85
0.56
22.60
21.50
number of new cancer cases and cancer deaths for all ages were com-
Cum.
risk

puted using the SE of the crude incidence or mortality rate used in

the estimation. The SE is corrected for three major causes of uncer-
(World)
3.9
3.1
1.2
6.9
2.2
6.3
8.2
5.1
222.0
206.9

tainty in the final estimate:

ASR

1. Coverage: the catchment population used in the computations only

(9832.4-10 303.7)
(9126.0-9565.0)

covers part of the national population (not the entire country/

(159.2-178.1)
(134.0-140.7)

(297.9-310.6)

(258.5-281.0)
(343.6-371.1)
(215.9-239.5)
(92.3-105.3)
(45.8-52.3)

subnational).
95% UI

2. The lag time: the most recent data are available prior to the
year 2020.
3. The quality of the data: the extent to which the data are consid-
Numbers

49.0

98.6
168.3
137.3

304.2

269.5
357.1
227.4
10 065.3
9343.0

ered complete and accurate.

Males

Penalties were used to correct the SE for each factor above in the UI
(0-74)

20.44
19.59
0.35
0.68
0.09
0.62
0.21
0.50
0.72
0.47

calculation. The formulae used to compute the corrected SE are pro-

Cum.
risk

vided in Annex D. The values of the penalties are given by country in

Annex E.
(World)
3.5
6.6
1.0
5.8
1.8
5.4
7.0
4.3
201.0
190.0
ASR

3 | RE SU LT S
(18 993.0-19 597.3)
(17 812.8-18 381.1)
(295.7-321.0)
(579.1-593.4)

(536.0-552.8)
(167.9-185.3)
(459.8-489.7)
(625.2-661.8)
(403.1-434.9)

Tables 1 and 2 show the estimated number of cases and deaths for all
(78.8-87.6)

cancers combined and for 38 specific cancers in males, females and

95% UI

both sexes, with the corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals, ASRs

and the cumulative risk. We estimated that there were 19.3 million
Both sexes

(95% UI: 19.0-19.6 million) new cancer cases (18.1 million excluding
Numbers

83.1
308.1
586.2

544.4
176.4
474.5
643.3
418.7
19 292.8
18 094.7

NMSC) and 10.0 million (95% UI: 9.7-10.2 million) cancer deaths (9.9
million excluding NMSC) in 2020 worldwide. There is about a 20% risk
of getting a cancer in a lifetime (before the age of 75), and a 10% risk
of dying from the cancer; one in five persons will get cancer in their
All cancers excl. non-melanoma
Brain, central nervous system

lifetimes and one in 10 will die from the disease. With 2.26 million
(Continued)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

(95% UI: 2.24-2.28) new cases estimated in 2020, female breast can-
Other specified cancers
Unspecified cancers

cer has now become the most commonly diagnosed cancer world-
Hodgkin lymphoma

Multiple myeloma

wide, followed closely by lung cancer (2.21 million, 95% UI:

skin cancer

2.18-2.24). The most common cause of cancer death remains by far

All cancers
Leukaemia
TABLE 1

Thyroid

lung cancer (1.80 million deaths, 95% UI: 1.77-1.82), followed by liver
Cancer

(0.83 million, 95% UI 0.81-0.85) and stomach cancer (0.77 million,

95% UI: 0.75-0.79).
T A B L E 2 Estimated cancer deaths and uncertainty intervals (95% UI, all ages, in thousands), age-standardised rates (ASRs, per 100 000) and cumulative risk to age 75 (percent) by sex and cancer
type worldwide, 2020

Both sexes Males Females

FERLAY ET AL.

ASR Cum. Risk ASR Cum. Risk ASR Cum. Risk

Cancer Numbers 95% UI (World) (0–74) Numbers 95% UI (World) (0–74) Numbers 95% UI (World) (0–74)
Lip, oral cavity 177.8 (167.8-188.3) 1.9 0.22 125.0 (116.6-134.1) 2.8 0.32 52.7 (47.7-58.3) 1.0 0.12
Salivary glands 22.8 (19.1-27.1) 0.2 0.03 13.4 (10.7-16.7) 0.3 0.03 9.4 (7.1-12.5) 0.2 0.02
Oropharynx 48.1 (43.3-53.5) 0.5 0.06 39.6 (35.3-44.5) 0.9 0.11 8.6 (6.7-10.9) 0.2 0.02
Nasopharynx 80.0 (72.8-87.9) 0.9 0.10 58.1 (52.1-64.8) 1.3 0.16 21.9 (18.3-26.3) 0.5 0.05
Hypopharynx 38.6 (34.2-43.5) 0.4 0.05 32.3 (28.4-36.8) 0.7 0.09 6.3 (4.7-8.5) 0.1 0.01
Oesophagus 544.1 (526.2-562.5) 5.6 0.68 374.3 (359.9-389.3) 8.3 1.01 169.8 (159.3-180.9) 3.2 0.38
Stomach 768.8 (748.6-789.5) 7.7 0.90 502.8 (486.5-519.6) 11.0 1.29 266.0 (254.3-278.3) 4.9 0.55
Colon 576.9 (569.8-584.0) 5.4 0.55 302.1 (297.1-307.2) 6.4 0.66 274.7 (269.8-279.7) 4.6 0.45
Rectum 339.0 (333.0-345.1) 3.3 0.37 204.1 (200.4-207.9) 4.4 0.50 134.9 (127.1-143.2) 2.4 0.26
Anus 19.3 (16.2-23.0) 0.2 0.02 9.4 (7.3-12.2) 0.2 0.02 9.9 (7.8-12.5) 0.2 0.02
Liver 830.2 (807.1-853.9) 8.7 1.01 577.5 (558.3-597.4) 12.9 1.49 252.7 (240.2-265.8) 4.8 0.55
Gallbladder 84.7 (79.0-90.8) 0.8 0.09 30.3 (27.1-33.8) 0.7 0.07 54.4 (49.8-59.5) 1.0 0.11
Pancreas 466.0 (459.5-472.6) 4.5 0.51 246.8 (242.2-251.5) 5.3 0.62 219.2 (214.6-223.8) 3.8 0.41
Larynx 99.8 (92.8-107.4) 1.0 0.13 85.4 (78.9-92.3) 1.9 0.23 14.5 (11.9-17.6) 0.3 0.03
Lung 1796.1 (1767.6-1825.2) 18.0 2.18 1188.7 (1164.9-1212.9) 25.9 3.08 607.5 (591.6-623.7) 11.2 1.34
Melanoma of skin 57.0 (52.2-62.4) 0.6 0.06 32.4 (28.8-36.4) 0.7 0.07 24.7 (21.5-28.3) 0.4 0.05
Non-melanoma skin 63.7 (58.3-69.7) 0.6 0.05 37.6 (33.5-42.2) 0.8 0.07 26.1 (22.7-30.1) 0.4 0.04
Mesothelioma 26.3 (22.8-30.3) 0.3 0.03 18.7 (15.8-22.1) 0.4 0.04 7.6 (5.8-10.0) 0.1 0.02
Kaposi sarcoma 15.1 (10.2-22.3) 0.2 0.01 9.9 (6.2-16.0) 0.2 0.02 5.2 (2.6-10.2) 0.1 0.01
Breast 685.0 (675.5-694.6) 13.6 1.49 — 685.0 (675.5–694.6) 13.6 1.49
Vulva 17.4 (14.5-20.9) 0.3 0.03 — 17.4 (14.5–20.9) 0.3 0.03
Vagina 8.0 (6.0-10.7) 0.2 0.02 — 8.0 (6.0–10.7) 0.2 0.02
Cervix uteri 341.8 (324.2-360.4) 7.3 0.82 — 341.8 (324.2–360.4) 7.3 0.82
Corpus uteri 97.4 (91.0-104.2) 1.8 0.22 — 97.4 (91.0–104.2) 1.8 0.22
Ovary 207.3 (197.0-218.1) 4.2 0.49 — 207.3 (197.0–218.1) 4.2 0.49
Penis 13.2 (10.7-16.3) 0.3 0.03 13.2 (10.7–16.3) 0.3 0.03 —
Prostate 375.3 (367.8-382.9) 7.7 0.63 375.3 (367.8–382.9) 7.7 0.63 —
Testis 9.3 (7.5-11.7) 0.2 0.02 9.3 (7.5–11.7) 0.2 0.02 —
Kidney 179.4 (175.2-183.7) 1.8 0.20 115.6 (112.3-119.0) 2.5 0.28 63.8 (61.2-66.5) 1.2 0.12
Bladder 212.5 (204.9-220.4) 1.9 0.18 158.8 (150.2-167.9) 3.3 0.30 53.8 (51.2-56.4) 0.9 0.08

(Continues)
5
 6 FERLAY ET AL.

Table 3 shows the most common types of cancer in terms of new

Cum. Risk
cases and deaths in each of the 20 world regions in 2020. Prostate

(0–74)
0.26

0.05
0.02
0.21
0.10
0.26
0.33
0.33
8.86
8.83
cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in males in
12 regions of the world, followed by lung cancer (four regions), NMSC
(two regions), lip and oral cavity, and liver cancer in one region. Lung
(World)
2.4

0.5
0.2
2.1
0.9
2.7
3.3
3.2
84.2
83.7
ASR

cancer was the most frequent cause of death from cancer in

13 regions of the world, followed by prostate and liver cancer in five

(4273.6-4590.8)
(4248.1-4563.9)
and two areas, respectively. In females, breast cancer was the most
(109.7-116.5)

(109.1-116.1)

(125.8-142.2)
(158.0-176.7)
(165.3-182.7)
frequently diagnosed cancer in all regions of the world, except in East-
(25.0-30.8)

(47.2-57.0)
(7.1-11.6)

ern Africa and in Australia/New Zealand where cervical cancer and

95% UI

NMSC dominated, respectively. Breast cancer was also the most fre-
quent cause of death from cancer in 12 regions of the world, lung can-
Numbers

cer in five regions (including Eastern Asia) and cervical cancer in three
Females

27.7

51.9
113.1

112.6

133.8
167.1
173.8
9.1

4429.3
4403.2
sub-Saharan Africa regions. These seven cancers represent almost half
of the global incidence and mortality burden in 2020.
Figure 1A,B summarises the estimated numbers of new cancer
Cum. Risk

cases and cancer deaths worldwide in 2020 by type of cancer and by

(0–74)
0.34

0.04
0.03
0.33
0.15
0.38
0.46
0.49
12.59
12.53

sex, while Figure 2 shows the distribution of the global cancer cases
and deaths (all cancers combined) by world region. Most cases (6.0
(World)

million, 31.1% of the total) and deaths (3.6 million, 36.3%) occurred in
120.8
120.0
3.2

0.3
0.3
3.3
1.4
4.0
4.5
4.6
ASR

Eastern Asia with its vast population (1.7 billion, 22% of the global
population in 2020). Northern America ranks second in terms of num-
(5351.7-5711.8)
(5315.0-5673.3)

ber of new cases (2.6 million, 13.3%) but third (699 000, 7.0%) in
(129.5-147.7)

(143.2-151.4)

(173.3-182.4)
(189.8-211.1)
(199.8-219.3)

terms of cancer deaths after South-Central Asia (1.3 million, 12.6%).

(13.6-18.6)
(11.9-17.2)

(59.9-71.0)
95% UI

Almost a quarter of the new cases (4.4 million) and one fifth of the
deaths (1.9 million) occurred in Europe, despite containing only one-
tenth of the global population
Numbers

15.9
14.3

65.2
138.3

147.2

177.8
200.2
209.3
5528.8
5491.2
Males

4 | DI SCU SSION
Cum. Risk

The main aim of our study is to document the data sources and
(0–74)
0.30

0.05
0.02
0.27
0.13
0.32
0.39
0.40
10.65
10.61

methods used to compile the global and region-specific estimates of

the cancer burden. Although IARC's estimation methods have been
(World)

refined in the last decades to account for the increasing availability

2.8

0.4
0.3
2.6
1.1
3.3
3.9
3.8
100.7
100.1
ASR

and quality of data, the underlying methodological principles have

remained unchanged: wherever possible, national estimates are based
(9721.1-10 200.9)
(9658.5-10 136.0)

upon local sources of cancer incidence (from population-based cancer

(244.4-258.4)

(254.4-265.2)
(109.9-124.7)
(304.3-319.1)
(353.4-381.7)
(370.3-396.4)

registries) and cancer mortality (mainly from vital registration sys-

(40.0-47.6)
(20.2-27.1)

tems). These methods are objective and easy to reproduce and have
95% UI

been adopted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European

Commission10 for their estimates of the cancer burden in Europe
Both sexes

in 2020.
Numbers
251.3

259.8
117.1
311.6
367.3
383.1
9958.1
9894.4
43.6
23.4

The uncertainty intervals (95% UI) that accompany the estimates

aim to capture, alongside inherent random variation, the uncertainty
in the source information, taking into account three important sources
(Continued)

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

melanoma skin cancer

of errors of the final estimate: coverage, lag time (timeliness) and the
Other specified cancers
Brain, central nervous

All cancers excl. non-

Unspecified cancers

quality of the data. Penalties are used to correct the SE for each bias
Hodgkin lymphoma

Multiple myeloma

in the UI calculation, and the interval thus widens when the recorded
incidence or mortality data cover a relatively low proportion of the
All cancers
Leukaemia
system
TABLE 2

Thyroid

total population, is less timely or of poorer quality. The estimation of

Cancer

the UI was modified on a cancer type-specific basis, given local cancer

registration processes and data availability can vary by cancer type.
TABLE 3 Leading types of cancer in terms of new cases (incidence) and deaths (mortality) by sex in each of the 20 world regions in 2020 [Color table can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
FERLAY ET AL.

Male Female

Incidence Mortality Incidence Mortality

First Second Third First Second Third First Second Third First Second Third

World Lung Prostate Non- Lung Liver Stomach Breast Lung Cervix uteri Breast Lung Cervix uteri
melanoma
skin
Africa Prostate Liver Lung Prostate Liver Lung Breast Cervix uteri Liver Breast Cervix Liver
uteri
Eastern Africa Prostate Kaposi NHL Prostate Oesophagus Liver Cervix uteri Breast Oesophagus Cervix Breast Oesophagus
sarcoma uteri
Middle Africa Prostate Liver NHL Prostate Liver NHL Breast Cervix uteri NHL Cervix Breast Liver
uteri
Northern Liver Lung Prostate Liver Lung Bladder Breast Liver Cervix uteri Breast Liver Ovary
Africa
Southern Prostate Lung Non- Lung Prostate Oesophagus Breast Cervix uteri Non- Cervix Breast Lung
Africa melanoma melanoma uteri
skin skin
Western Prostate Liver NHL Prostate Liver NHL Breast Cervix uteri Ovary Breast Cervix Liver
Africa uteri
Americas Prostate Non- Lung Lung Prostate Colon Breast Non- Lung Lung Breast Colon
melanoma melanoma
skin skin
Northern Non- Prostate Lung Lung Prostate Pancreas Breast Non- Lung Lung Breast Pancreas
America melanoma melanoma
skin skin
Caribbean Prostate Lung Colon Prostate Lung Colon Breast Colon Lung Breast Lung Colon
Central Prostate Stomach Colon Prostate Stomach Liver Breast Cervix uteri Thyroid Breast Cervix Liver
America uteri
South America Prostate Lung Colon Lung Prostate Stomach Breast Cervix uteri Thyroid Breast Lung Cervix uteri
Asia Lung Stomach Liver Lung Liver Stomach Breast Lung Cervix uteri Lung Breast Cervix uteri
Eastern Asia Lung Stomach Liver Lung Liver Stomach Breast Lung Colon Lung Breast Stomach
South-Eastern Lung Liver Prostate Lung Liver Stomach Breast Cervix uteri Lung Breast Cervix Lung
Asia uteri
South-Central Lip and oral Lung Stomach Lung Lip and oral Oesophagus Breast Cervix uteri Ovary Breast Cervix Ovary
Asia cavity cavity uteri
Western Asia Lung Prostate Bladder Lung Stomach Prostate Breast Thyroid Lung Breast Lung Stomach

(Continues)
7
 8

TABLE 3 (Continued)

Male Female

Incidence Mortality Incidence Mortality

First Second Third First Second Third First Second Third First Second Third

Europe Prostate Lung Non- Lung Prostate Colon Breast Lung Colon Breast Lung Colon
melanoma
skin
Eastern Lung Prostate Colon Lung Prostate Stomach Breast Corpus uteri Colon Breast Lung Colon
Europe
Northern Prostate Non- Lung Lung Prostate Colon Breast Lung Colon Lung Breast Colon
Europe melanoma
skin
Southern Prostate Lung Bladder Lung Colon Prostate Breast Colon Lung Breast Lung Colon
Europe
Western Prostate Non- Lung Lung Prostate Colon Breast Non- Lung Breast Lung Pancreas
Europe melanoma melanoma
skin skin
Oceania Non- Prostate Melanoma of Lung Prostate Colon Non- Breast Melanoma of Lung Breast Colon
melanoma skin melanoma skin
skin skin
Australia/New Non- Prostate Melanoma of Lung Prostate Colon Non- Breast Melanoma of Lung Breast Colon
Zealand melanoma skin melanoma skin
skin skin
Melanesia Prostate Lip and oral Lung Liver Lung Prostate Breast Cervix uteri Thyroid Breast Cervix Liver
cavity uteri
Micronesia/ Prostate Lung Liver Lung Prostate Liver Breast Lung Thyroid Lung Breast Ovary
Polynesia

Abbreviation: NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

FERLAY ET AL.
FERLAY ET AL. 9

(A) Incidence: 10.1 million cases Mortality: 5.5 million deaths

Unspecified
Lung
Unspecified
2.3%
14.3% Lung
Other 3.8%
Other
26.9% 21.5%
21.9%
Prostate
14.1%

10.4%
Bladder 2.9% Liver
3.2%
3.0% Leukaemia 3.7%
7.2%
NHL 4.2% Non−melanoma 4.5% 9.1%
Rectum
skin 5.5%
4.4% 6.8% 6.8% Stomach
Oesophagus 7.1% Pancreas
4.4%
6.0% 6.3% Colon
Rectum Prostate
Stomach
Oesophagus
Bladder
Colon Liver

(B) Incidence: 9.2 million cases Mortality: 4.4 million deaths

Unspecified

2.1% Breast Unspecified

Breast
Other
24.5% 3.9%
15.5%
27.5%
Other
24.8%
Lung
13.7%

8.4% 3.0%
3.1% Rectum 3.8% 7.7%
Lung
Oesophagus 4.7% Cervix
Rectum 3.4% 6.2%
6.5% 4.9%
4.0% 5.7% 6.0%
Ovary Ovary
Colon
4.5% 5.9%
4.9% 5.2% Cervix Pancreas
Liver Stomach
Stomach
Corpus Colon
uteri Non−melanoma
skin
Thyroid

F I G U R E 1 Distribution of the estimated new cases and deaths for the 10 most common cancers in 2020 in males (A) and females (B). For
each sex, the area of the pie chart reflects the proportion of the total number of cases or deaths. NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma [Color figure can
be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]

The underlying incidence rates depend on the ability to diagnose of the prostate and thyroid in many higher-income countries, in par-
cancer cases, which in turn is related to the adequacy, access and ticular.11 For certain countries and cancer types, national cancer mor-
utilisation of diagnostic services, particularly for NMSC and leukaemia tality data were not available at the necessary level of granularity,
and for cancers of the brain, liver and pancreas. Conversely, there is namely mesothelioma, Kaposi sarcoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and can-
the prospect of an inflation of incidence rates for certain cancers cers of the vulva, vagina, testis, kidney and thyroid in the countries of
where there may have been extensive screening for asymptomatic Albania, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In these circumstances,
disease, or an increased amount of accidental findings emerging from the penalty was increased to inflate the SE, reflecting a higher degree
the use of high-resolution imaging techniques; this refers to cancers of uncertainty surrounding the corresponding estimates. This
10 FERLAY ET AL.

(A) Incidence: 10.1 million cases Mortality: 5.5 million deaths F I G U R E 2 Estimated global
Africa numbers of new cases and deaths
4.7% Africa
5.9% with proportions by world regions in
2020 in males (A), females (B) and
Western Americas both sexes (C) [Color figure can be
South−Central Americas Western 13.3%
Northern 20.8% South−Central Northern viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
South−Eastern
Latin America
South−Eastern & Caribbean
Asia Latin America
49.9% & Caribbean Eastern

Northern
Eastern Asia
60.6% Southern
Eastern Northern
Europe
Western 19.6%
Southern Eastern
Western Europe
23.2%
Oceania
0.7%

Oceania
1.4%

(B) Incidence: 9.2 million cases Mortality: 4.4 million deaths

Africa
6.9% Africa
8.7%

Western
South−Central Western
Northern Americas South−Central Americas
Northern
South−Eastern
21.0% 15.3%
Asia South−Eastern Latin America
48.6% Latin America & Caribbean
& Caribbean Asia
55.5% Eastern

Eastern Northern
Eastern
Southern
Northern Eastern Western
Southern Europe
Western 19.7%
Europe
22.3% Oceania
0.7%
Oceania
1.3%

(C) Incidence: 19.3 million cases Mortality: 10.0 million deaths

Africa
5.7% Africa
7.1%

Western Americas Americas

South−Central 20.9% Western 14.2%
South−Central
Northern Northern
South−Eastern
South−Eastern Latin America
& Caribbean
Latin America
Asia & Caribbean
Eastern
49.3% Asia
58.3% Northern
Eastern
Eastern Southern
Northern Europe
Eastern Western
Southern 19.6%
Western
Europe
22.8% Oceania
0.7%
Oceania
1.3%

approach reflects only a subset of all possible sources of bias in the Australia/New Zealand, North America, South Africa and Northern
collection and analysis of the data that are presently available Europe. Given that the completeness of registration of NMSC varies
worldwide. widely, the results should be interpreted with considerable caution,
Our estimates of the incidence of NMSC are based exclusively particularly in Australia/New Zealand and North America, where the
on cancer registry data that report the first occurrence of the estimates are based on a single registry in Australia (Tasmania, likely
4
cancer, and therefore may differ widely from reports published to have the lowest rate in the country as the lowest solar exposure)
elsewhere. NMSCs are particularly common in fair-skinned and Canada (Manitoba). As NMSC incidence is difficult to assess and
populations of European descent, with high incidence rates found in cases rarely fatal, the surveillance of NMSC has been somewhat
FERLAY ET AL. 11

neglected at the global level. However, it is noteworthy that the esti- is at variance with the fact that many registries confront significant
mated mortality rates of all types of NMSC worldwide are higher than operational challenges, including insufficient funding and a shortage
the corresponding rates of melanoma, oropharynx, thyroid cancer and of qualified staff. This has been amplified in the COVID-19 era, where
mesothelioma (NMSC ASR of 0.60 vs 0.56, 0.51, 0.43 and 0.25, most registries, most markedly in LMIC, have seen major disruptions
respectively). to their operations during the early phase of the COVID-19 pan-
The use of site-, sex- and age-specific M:I ratios from cancer reg- demic.17 Finally, registries are increasingly hampered by data protec-
istries to estimate national incidence rates from national mortality has tion regulations and may be reluctant to transfer data across national
been validated and applied extensively over several decades, and the borders for fear of penalties by national authorities, thus threatening
possible sources of bias have been described in detail elsewhere.1,12,13 the future of international collaborations in cancer research.18
Due to the lack of recent data on survival statistics in lower-income
settings, we did not model survival to derive mortality from AC KNOW LEDG EME NT S
incidence,1 but rather fitted site-, sex- regional models of I:M ratios as The authors gratefully acknowledge cancer registries worldwide and
proxies of survival, scaled to a given country according to HDI level14 their staff for their willingness to contribute their data to this exercise,
(see also Annex C). As previously, we caution against comparisons of and particularly the members of the African Cancer Registry Network.
estimates compiled in this and previous versions of GLOBOCAN; the We also thank the staff of CSU at IARC for their careful review of the
changes in the incidence and mortality counts or rates are in part due estimates.
to an increasing availability and quality of the incidence data from
cancer registries worldwide, which is the basis for the more robust set CONFLIC T OF INT ER E ST
of methods and estimates described herein. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
From a global perspective, it is unknown how the COVID-19 pan-
demic will affect the burden of cancer. Important delays in cancer DISCLAIMER
diagnoses have been reported in the United States15 and Belgium,16 Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency
suggesting that patients will be registered but with a delay and possi- for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, the authors alone
bly at a more advanced stage. Unfortunately, this extraordinary situa- are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not
tion cannot be reflected in the present 2020 estimates, which are necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the Interna-
based on incidence and mortality trends from past years. As a result, tional Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization.
we might observe a possible overestimation of the true 2020
incidence rates (as they will be reported) in some countries. The DATA AVAILABILITY STAT EMEN T
COVID-19 pandemic also affected the registration process in PBCR, The list of the datasets used to develop the country-specific estimates
particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and may lead of the burden of cancer is provided in Annex. These data sets are
to delays in reporting that affect corresponding incidence rates in the either in the public domain or available upon request to their owners.
years prior to 2020. The full results of the study are available at the Global Cancer Obser-
In addition to providing a global snapshot of the cancer burden in vatory (GCO) (https://gco.iarc.fr).
2020, the GLOBOCAN estimates highlight the need for regional and
national prioritisation of cancer control efforts given the cancer pat- ET HICS S TAT E MENT
terns observed today. There are many critical observations among As all data utilised in our study are completely anonymised, ethical
these results that can serve to provide the evidence base and impetus approval was not required.
for developing strategies to reduce the cancer burden worldwide in
the decades to follow. However, such national estimates at a single OR CID
point in time are not designed nor intended to be a substitute for the Jacques Ferlay https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4927-6932
continuous collection of data undertaken by population-based cancer Donald M. Parkin https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3229-1784
registries that are critical in the local monitoring and evaluating of can- Ariana Znaor https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5849-4782
cer control plans. Indeed, the present GLOBOCAN estimates of can- Freddie Bray https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3248-7787
cer would not be possible without the underlying recorded data from
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