GENEVA, Switzerland – The number of new cancer cases worldwide could rise to nearly 35 million annually by 2050 unless countries urgently strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
The warning is contained in the Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, produced jointly by WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which highlights widening disparities in cancer survival between high- and low-income countries.
According to the report, cancer remains the world’s second-leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases, claiming nearly 10 million lives each year. The disease is responsible for more than 20.6 million new cases annually and an average of more than 26,000 deaths every day.
WHO said progress in tobacco control, vaccination programmes and cancer prevention has been made over the past decade, but millions of people continue to face unequal access to life-saving diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.
“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,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
He added that the inequalities highlighted in the report “are not inevitable” and can be reversed through stronger and coordinated global action.
The report found stark differences in survival rates across income levels. While 87 pc of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years in high-income countries, the survival rate drops to about 42 pc in low-income countries.
WHO noted that fewer than one in three countries currently include comprehensive cancer care within their universal health coverage packages, leaving many patients without access to essential services.
The report also examined the financial and emotional impact of cancer on patients and caregivers.
According to WHO’s first global survey of people affected by cancer, at least 45 pc of patients experience financial hardship, more than half report mental health challenges, and almost all caregivers face significant pressures, including unpaid care responsibilities and social isolation.
Regionally, Asia recorded more than half of all global cancer cases and deaths in 2024, largely reflecting its population size.
Europe, despite accounting for only about 9 pc of the world’s population, recorded 21 pc of global cancer cases and 20 pc of cancer deaths, indicating a disproportionately high disease burden.
Meanwhile, many countries across Africa and parts of Asia continue to report lower cancer incidence but significantly higher mortality rates because of delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Among men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are the most commonly diagnosed, while breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for the highest number of cases among women.
WHO estimates that nearly four in 10 cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and infections including human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B and C.
Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, Director of IARC, said although several countries have recorded declines in certain cancers through prevention programmes, the overall pace of progress remains insufficient.
“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,” she said.
The report also highlighted improvements over the past decade, with 82 pc of countries now reporting national cancer control plans compared to 50 pc in 2010.
However, access to essential cancer medicines remains uneven, ranging from just 9 pc to 54 pc in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared with between 68 pc and 94 pc in high-income countries.
WHO urged governments to place patients and their families at the centre of cancer care by strengthening health systems, expanding access to affordable treatment and ensuring prevention remains a public health priority.
