Cancer Rates by Country 🧬

Key takeaways

• Cancer rates vary by country due to differences in age structure, genetics, lifestyle, environmental exposures, healthcare access, screening practices, and data quality.
• Many low- and middle-income countries show lower ASRs, reflecting differences in demographics, risk factors, and cancer detection.

Australia and New Zealand lead

Australia and New Zealand have the world’s highest cancer incidence rates, largely driven by these countries’ intense UV exposure which results in more cases of melanoma.

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes and is more likely to spread than other skin cancers. Melanoma is mainly caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light.