The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Mesothelioma incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C45 (Mesothelioma).
Estimated number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in 2022
904 = 
714 males + 
190 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2022
0.56%
Estimated number of deaths from mesothelioma in 2022
761 = 604 males + 157 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2022
1.5%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2014–2018)
6.8%
People living with mesothelioma at the end of 2017 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2013 to 2017)
1,040
New cases
In 2018, there were 811 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia (637 males and 174 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 904 new cases of mesothelioma will be diagnosed in Australia (714 males and 190 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 319 (or 0.31%) risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 204 or 0.49% for males and 1 in 765 or 0.13% for females).
Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2022
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
In 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 2.7 cases per 100,000 persons (4.6 for males and 1.1 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 2.6 cases per 100,000 persons (4.4 for males and 1.1 for females). The incidence rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 85–89 years.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for mesothelioma, 1982 to 2018, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for mesothelioma over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
The number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed increased from 157 (135 males and 22 females) in 1982 to 811 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate remained similar from 1.2 cases per 100,000 persons (2.3 for males and 0.3 for females) in 1982 to 2.7 cases per 100,000 in 2018.
Deaths
In 2020, there were 701 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia (550 males and 151 females). In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 761 deaths (604 males and 157 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 396 (or 0.25%) risk of dying from mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 247 or 0.41% for males and 1 in 1,046 or 0.096% for females).
Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2022
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about mortality rates for the most common causes of cancer death can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
In 2020, the age-standardised mortality rate was 2.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.7 for males and 0.8 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 2.2 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.8 for males and 0.8 for females). The mortality rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 85–89 years.
Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for mesothelioma, 1997 to 2020, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about mortality rates for mesothelioma over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
The number of deaths from mesothelioma increased from 416 (353 males and 63 females) in 1997 to 701 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar from 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.5 for males and 0.7 for females) in 1982 to 2.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2020.
Survival
In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma had a 6.8% chance (5.3% for males and 13% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1989–1993 and 2014–2018, five-year relative survival for mesothelioma improved from 5.6% to 6.8%.
Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for mesothelioma, 1989–1993 to 2014–2018, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for mesothelioma over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Relative survival rate’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival-diagnosis)
Prevalence
At the end of 2017, there were 552 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma that year, 1,040 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 1,279 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).
For more information, see Mesothelioma on the NCCI website
The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.
