The number of people diagnosed with cancer worldwide could rise to nearly 35 million new cases each year by 2050, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to call for stronger global action on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and patient support.
The warning comes in the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, prepared in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The report estimates that around 20.6 million people currently develop cancer every year, while nearly 10 million die from the disease, making cancer the world’s second-leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
According to WHO, the growing burden is not only a healthcare challenge but also a social and economic one. The report says millions of patients and their families continue to face unequal access to essential services, leading to avoidable deaths and significant financial hardship.
One of the report’s strongest messages is the need to build cancer care around people rather than healthcare systems. It urges governments to improve access to prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and supportive care while reducing inequalities between countries and communities.
“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 Dr 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.”
The findings reveal major differences in survival rates across income groups. Women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries have an estimated five-year survival rate of 87%, compared with only about 42% in low-income countries. The report also notes that less than one-third of countries currently provide cancer care as part of their universal health coverage packages.
Beyond medical treatment, cancer continues to place enormous pressure on households. WHO’s first global survey of people living with cancer found that 45% experienced financial difficulties, more than half reported mental health problems, and almost every caregiver described challenges ranging from unpaid caregiving responsibilities to social isolation.
Cancer patterns also differ significantly across regions. In 2024, Asia accounted for 50.7% of all new cancer cases and 56.5% of global cancer deaths, largely reflecting its population size. Europe, despite representing only about 9% of the world’s population, contributed 21% of new cases and 20% of cancer-related deaths. Meanwhile, several countries in Africa and parts of Asia continue to record comparatively lower cancer incidence but much higher mortality because of delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
The report identifies lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers remain the most commonly diagnosed, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a large proportion of cancer cases among women.
WHO estimates that nearly four out of every ten cancers are associated with preventable risk factors. These include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C and Helicobacter pylori. The report also points to air pollution as an increasing contributor to 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 WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (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.”
Although important progress has been made over the past decade, WHO says the pace of improvement remains insufficient. Global tobacco use has fallen by 27% since 2010, helping lower lung cancer rates in several regions. Wider vaccination programmes, better sanitation and stronger infection-control measures have also reduced cancers linked to infectious diseases.
The report further notes that 82% of countries now have national cancer control plans, compared with 50% in 2010. Screening programmes have expanded in many high-income nations, where most breast cancers are detected early and 74% of women undergo cervical cancer screening. Scientific research is also advancing rapidly, with registered cancer clinical trials increasing by an average of 7.3% annually between 2005 and 2021.
Despite these advances, access to lifesaving medicines remains highly unequal. Availability of the 20 priority cancer medicines ranges from 9% to 54% in low- and lower-middle-income countries, while access reaches 68% to 94% in high-income nations.
“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 a lead 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.”
To tackle these challenges, WHO recommends that countries strengthen cancer services through universal health coverage, invest in healthcare workers, expand social protection for patients and caregivers, and ensure that research and medical innovations become accessible to people regardless of where they live or their economic status.
The WHO report makes it clear that the future impact of cancer will depend on decisions taken today. Greater investment in prevention, early detection, equitable treatment and patient-centred healthcare can help curb the projected rise in cancer cases and improve survival and quality of life for millions of people across the world.