Lung Cancer
Global mortality data, country rankings, and trends for Lung Cancer from 1990 to 2021.
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Lung Cancer is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. This page presents data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study, showing mortality trends, country rankings, and regional patterns. Understanding the epidemiology of lung cancer helps inform public health interventions and resource allocation.
This data is sourced from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, processed via Our World in Data. All rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population unless otherwise noted. Explore related mortality data using the links below.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, killing approximately 1.8 million people annually — more than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. Tobacco smoking causes approximately 80-85% of lung cancer cases, with risk proportional to duration and intensity of exposure. Other risk factors include secondhand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, outdoor air pollution, and occupational carcinogens. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of cases, with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprising the remainder. Lung cancer is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, contributing to a five-year survival rate of only 10-20% globally. Countries with mature tobacco epidemics — including China, the United States, and much of Europe — have the highest incidence, while rates are rising rapidly in countries undergoing tobacco transition. The lung cancer burden is shifting toward low- and middle-income countries as smoking prevalence increases in Asia and Africa.
Tobacco cessation is the single most effective lung cancer prevention strategy. Even after decades of smoking, quitting substantially reduces risk. Population-level tobacco control — taxation, advertising bans, smoke-free legislation, and graphic health warnings — remains the highest-impact public health intervention. Low-dose CT screening reduces lung cancer mortality by 20-24% in high-risk current and former smokers. Radon mitigation in homes and occupational exposure limits for asbestos and industrial carcinogens complement tobacco control. Immunotherapy and targeted therapies have improved advanced-stage survival.