The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Lung cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C33 (Malignant neoplasm of trachea) and C34 (Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung).
New cases
Lung cancer was the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2020. It is estimated that it will remain the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2024.
In 2020, there were 13,309 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Australia (7,133 males and 6,176 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 15,122 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (7,718 males and 7,404 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 20 (or 4.9%) risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 20 or 5.0% for males and 1 in 21 or 4.9% for females).
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 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 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 55 cases per 100,000 persons (63 for males and 48 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 56 cases per 100,000 persons (61 for males and 52 for females). The incidence rate for lung cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 85–89 years.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about incidence rates for lung cancer 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 lung cancer diagnosed increased from 5,947 (4,687 males and 1,260 females) in 1982 to 13,309 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate decreased from 60 cases per 100,000 persons (110 for males and 23 for females) in 1982 to 55 cases per 100,000 in 2020.
Deaths
In 2022, lung cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the most common cause of death from cancer in 2024.
In 2022, there were 9,048 deaths from lung cancer in Australia (5,145 males and 3,903 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 8,918 deaths (4,909 males and 4,009 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 35 (or 2.8%) risk of dying from lung cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 32 or 3.1% for males and 1 in 39 or 2.6% for females).
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Two sources are used for cancer mortality reporting rankings (National Mortality Database and Australian Cancer Database). Mortality data reported for cancer of unknown primary site, liver cancer and stomach cancer in the chart above is from the Australian Cancer Database. Data from the National Mortality Database is presented in-text unless it is unavailable. More information can be found at AIHW interim guidelines (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/interim-guidelines-choosing-which-mortality-data)
- 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 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 35 deaths per 100,000 persons (43 for males and 29 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 33 deaths per 100,000 persons (39 for males and 28 for females). The mortality rate for lung cancer is expected to increase with age.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about mortality rates for lung cancer 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 lung cancer increased from 5,288 (4,227 males and 1,061 females) in 1982 to 9,048 persons in 2022. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 54.2 deaths per 100,000 persons (102 for males and 19 for females) in 1982 to 35 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Survival
In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with lung cancer had a 26% chance (21% for males and 31% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1991–1995 and 2016–2020, five-year relative survival for lung cancer increased from 10% to 26%.
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for lung cancer 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 2020, there were 9,163 people living who had been diagnosed with lung cancer that year, 26,356 people living who had been diagnosed with lung cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020) and 41,897 people living who had been diagnosed with lung cancer in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).
For more information, see Lung cancer 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.
