The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the number of new cancer cases worldwide could rise to 35 million annually by 2050, calling for urgent action to strengthen prevention, early detection and access to quality treatment.
In its Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, released on Wednesday, July 8, and produced in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO said cancer currently claims more than 26,000 lives every day, with about 20.6 million new cases diagnosed each year.
The report stressed that reversing the growing cancer burden will require a people-centred approach that prioritises the health needs and experiences of patients and their families.
It assessed countries’ progress in areas including political commitment, cancer prevention, tobacco control, vaccination programmes and investments in treatment. However, it found that inequalities in access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care continue to widen across the world.
According to the report, survival rates remain heavily influenced by where people live. While 87 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries survive for at least five years, the figure falls to just 42 per cent in low-income countries.
The report also found that fewer than one-third of countries have integrated comprehensive cancer care into their universal health coverage systems.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said no one’s chance of surviving cancer should depend on their country of birth or income level.
He noted that the disparities highlighted in the report are the result of policy choices and can be addressed through coordinated global action.
Ghebreyesus added that cancer affects nearly everyone either directly or through a family member or close friend during their lifetime, making it one of the world’s most significant public health challenges.
Beyond its health impact, the report described cancer as a major source of financial and social hardship. WHO’s first global survey on the issue found that at least 45 per cent of people affected by cancer experienced financial difficulties, while more than half reported mental health challenges. Caregivers were also found to face considerable emotional stress.
Regionally, Asia recorded the largest share of the global cancer burden in 2024, accounting for more than half of all new cancer cases. Europe represented 21 per cent of global cases and 20 per cent of cancer deaths despite having a much smaller share of the world’s population.
The report noted that although many countries in Africa and parts of Asia have lower cancer incidence rates, they experience higher mortality because of delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, while prostate and colorectal cancers continue to be among the most commonly diagnosed cancers. Among women, breast, lung and colorectal cancers account for a substantial proportion of the global disease burden.
WHO estimated that nearly 40 per cent of all cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, infections and physical inactivity.
IARC Director Elisabete Weiderpass said global progress in reducing the cancer burden remains too slow despite improvements in several areas.
She warned that rising obesity rates, unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles and increasing air pollution are contributing to the growing number of cancer cases worldwide.
The report highlighted some encouraging developments, including a 27 per cent decline in global tobacco use since 2010 and an increase in the proportion of countries with national cancer control plans from 50 per cent to 82 per cent.
Despite these gains, WHO said access to essential cancer medicines remains inadequate in many low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The organisation urged governments, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen universal health coverage, expand access to essential cancer services and ensure that quality cancer care is available to everyone, regardless of where they live or their economic status.
