Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The global cancer burden continues to rise at an alarming rate, with 20.6 million new cancer cases and 9.8 million deaths recorded worldwide in 2024, according to the latest GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The report warns that if current trends continue, annual cancer cases could increase to 34 million by 2050, representing a 67 per cent rise, while cancer-related deaths could climb to 17.5 million, nearly 80 per cent higher than current levels.
Released as IARC marked its 60th anniversary, the report provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of global cancer incidence and mortality across countries, age groups and sexes.
Men Account for Most Cancer Deaths
According to the report, men accounted for 10.6 million of the new cancer cases recorded in 2024, while women accounted for 10 million.
Cancer deaths were also higher among men, who represented 56 per cent of the estimated 9.8 million deaths, compared with 44 per cent among women.
Head of IARC’s Cancer Surveillance Branch, Freddie Bray, noted that men continue to experience poorer outcomes for many cancer types.
“One in nine men and one in 13 women die from cancer. This reflects the variation in cancer types between men and women and the generally poorer prognosis of cancers affecting men,” Bray said.
The report highlighted significant disparities in cancer incidence and survival across different regions of the world.
Although Europe accounts for just 9.2 per cent of the global population, it contributes more than 20 per cent of global cancer cases.
China alone accounts for approximately one-quarter of all new cancer cases and deaths worldwide because of its large population.
Meanwhile, mortality rates remain particularly high in parts of Eastern Europe and Melanesia, while sub-Saharan Africa continues to face a heavy burden of infection-related cancers.
In the region, breast and cervical cancers account for more than half of cancers diagnosed among women, while infections contribute to around 80 per cent of preventable cancers.
Lung, Breast and Prostate Cancers Remain Most Common
The report identified lung cancer as the leading cancer globally in both incidence and mortality, remaining the biggest cause of cancer-related deaths in 89 countries, particularly among men.
Breast cancer continues to be the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 164 countries and the leading cause of cancer deaths in 122 countries.
Among men, prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 123 countries, partly due to expanded screening and diagnostic testing.
Beyond the growing number of cancer cases, IARC expressed concern about the quality of cancer surveillance worldwide.
According to the agency, only one in three countries currently has high-quality cancer incidence data, while just one in four reports reliable cancer mortality data.
Bray warned that without significant improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment, the global cancer burden will continue to grow.
“To simply maintain current numbers of cases and deaths, we would need a 2 per cent decline in both incidence and mortality every year—and we are nowhere near that,” he said.
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Hope Ajayi 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah