The WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, developed in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), estimates that cancer now accounts for about 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually, making it the second leading cause of death globally after cardiovascular disease.
The report warns that without urgent and coordinated action, annual cancer cases could rise sharply to nearly 35 million by 2050, driven by population growth, ageing populations and the continued spread of preventable risk factors.
WHO said reversing the trend will require a major transformation in how countries approach cancer prevention, treatment and care — with greater emphasis on the experiences, needs and rights of people living with cancer and their families.
Cancer survival still depends heavily on where people live
Although advances in cancer research, diagnosis and treatment have improved outcomes in many parts of the world, the report highlights deep and widening inequalities in access to essential cancer services.
According to WHO, survival gaps remain particularly severe between high-income and low-income countries. For example, while 87 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive at least five years after diagnosis in high-income countries, the figure drops to around 42 per cent in low-income countries.
The organisation noted that fewer than one-third of countries currently include comprehensive cancer care within their universal health coverage programmes, leaving millions without adequate access to prevention, early detection, treatment and supportive services.
“Cancer is a deeply personal disease that touches nearly all of us. But whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action.”
Beyond illness: Cancer creates financial and emotional hardship
WHO stressed that cancer affects far more than physical health, describing it as one of the most financially and socially disruptive challenges a household can experience.
The organisation’s first global survey of people affected by cancer found that at least 45 per cent experience financial hardship, while more than half report mental health difficulties linked to their diagnosis and treatment.
Caregivers also face significant pressure, including unpaid care responsibilities, emotional distress and social isolation.
For many families, the cost of cancer care can result in debt, reduced income and difficult choices between treatment, daily living expenses and other essential needs.
“Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis – it profoundly, indefinitely affects every aspect of a person’s life, and their family's as well,” said Clarissa Schilstra, a childhood cancer survivor and one of the leads of WHO’s survey.
“We urge policymakers to meaningfully engage with people affected by cancer. By voicing our lived experiences, we can inform more equitable, effective solutions to protect and promote the lives and wellbeing of future generations.”
Asia carries the largest share of global cancer cases
The report shows that cancer rates vary significantly across regions.
In 2024, Asia recorded the highest proportion of global cancer cases, accounting for 50.7 per cent of new cases and 56.5 per cent of deaths, largely reflecting its large population size.
Europe, however, experienced a disproportionately high burden, representing 21 per cent of global cancer cases and 20 per cent of deaths despite accounting for only about nine per cent of the world’s population.
Meanwhile, many countries in Africa and parts of Asia reported lower numbers of new cases but significantly higher death rates, largely due to delayed diagnosis, limited treatment options and weaker health systems.
Lung cancer remains the world’s leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers remain among the most common forms, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a major share of cancer cases among women.
Preventable causes continue driving cancer cases
WHO estimates that nearly four in every 10 cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors.
These include infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Helicobacter pylori, as well as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, high body mass index and insufficient physical activity.
The agency said prevention remains one of the most powerful tools in reducing the global cancer burden.
“While we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Dr Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC.
“The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority.”
Cancer burden rising in the Americas
The report also highlighted continuing challenges in the Region of the Americas, where cancer remains among the leading causes of illness and death.
Nearly 1.5 million new cancer cases and more than 750,000 cancer deaths were estimated in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024.
WHO said inequalities remain significant across countries, particularly in access to early detection programmes, timely diagnosis, cancer treatment, palliative care and financial protection.
The organisation warned that cancer cases in the region are expected to continue increasing in coming decades due to ageing populations, demographic changes and persistent exposure to preventable risks such as tobacco, alcohol, obesity, physical inactivity and certain infections.
Progress recorded, but major gaps remain
Despite the challenges, the report identified important improvements in global cancer control.
WHO noted that tobacco use has declined by 27 per cent since 2010, contributing to reductions in lung cancer cases and deaths in some regions.
Cancer linked to infections is also declining in some areas due to increased vaccination coverage, improved water and sanitation systems, and stronger infection prevention measures.
Political commitment has expanded, with 82 per cent of countries now having national cancer control plans, compared with 50 per cent in 2010.
Scientific research is also advancing, with registered cancer clinical trials growing by an average of 7.3 per cent annually between 2005 and 2021.
However, WHO warned that progress remains uneven and is not reaching many communities quickly enough.
Access to essential cancer medicines remains a major challenge. The availability of the 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from only 9 per cent to 54 per cent in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with 68 per cent to 94 per cent in high-income countries.
WHO calls for a people-centred cancer strategy
The report calls for a new approach that places people living with cancer and their families at the heart of decision-making.
WHO urged governments, international organisations, civil society groups, research institutions and the private sector to work together to build cancer systems that are more accessible, affordable and focused on human needs.
The organisation outlined three major strategic shifts:
Better capabilities: Countries should integrate cancer control into universal health coverage systems and invest in health workers, infrastructure and prevention programmes.
Better protections: People with lived experience of cancer should play a central role in shaping cancer policies, while governments strengthen social and financial protections for patients and caregivers.
Better value: Research and innovation should focus on public health priorities while ensuring that new treatments and technologies are affordable and available to all who need them.
WHO said decisions made today will determine the cancer burden faced by future generations.
By investing in prevention, expanding access to quality care and ensuring that cancer policies reflect the experiences of affected communities, countries can reduce deaths and improve outcomes for people everywhere.