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Melanoma of the skin statistics

Explore statistics on melanoma, including the number of new cases, deaths, survival rates, and overall prevalence.

18,257 Estimated number of new cases of melanoma of the skin diagnosed in 2023
11% Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2023
1,314  Estimated number of deaths from melanoma of the skin in 2023
2.6% Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2023
94% Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2015–2019)
65,147 People living with melanoma of the skin at the end of 2018 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2014 to 2018)

The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Melanoma skin cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C43 (Malignant neoplasm of skin).

New cases 

Melanoma of the skin was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2019. It is estimated that it will remain the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2023.

In 2019, there were 15,628 new cases of melanoma of the skin diagnosed in Australia (9,134 males and 6,494 females). In 2023, it is estimated that 18,257 new cases of melanoma of the skin will be diagnosed in Australia (10,639 males and 7,618 females). In 2023, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 17 (or 5.9%) risk of being diagnosed with melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 14 or 7.0% for males and 1 in 21 or 4.8% for females).

Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2023
Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2023

Notes

In 2019, the age-standardised incidence rate was 65 cases per 100,000 persons (80.6 for males and 51.5 for females). In 2023, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 69.4 cases per 100,000 persons (85.2 for males and 55.6 for females). The incidence rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 85–89 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for melanoma of the skin cancer, 1982 to 2019, by sex
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for melanoma of the skin cancer, 1982 to 2019, by sex

Notes

  • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2023 web report and supplementary data tables
  • Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2023 Australian Standard Population
  • More information about incidence rates for melanoma of the skin 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 melanoma of the skin diagnosed increased from 3,538 (1,736 males and 1,802 females) in 1982 to 15,628 in 2019. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 30 cases per 100,000 persons (32 for males and 28 for females) in 1982 to 65 cases per 100,000 in 2019.

Deaths

In 2021, melanoma of the skin was the tenth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will become the eleventh most common cause of death from cancer in 2023.

In 2021, there were 1,455 deaths from melanoma of the skin in Australia (958 males and 497 females). In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 1,314 deaths (853 males and 461 females). In 2023, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 269 (or 0.4%) risk of dying from melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 206 or 0.5% for males and 1 in 389 or 0.3% for females).

Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2023
Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2023

Notes

In 2021, the age-standardised mortality rate was 5.8 deaths per 100,000 persons (8.5 for males and 3.6 for females). In 2023, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 5.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.2 for males and 3.2 for females). The mortality rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for melanoma of the skin cancer, 1982 to 2021, by sex
Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for melanoma of the skin cancer, 1982 to 2021, by sex

Notes

  • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2023 web report and supplementary data tables
  • Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2023 Australian Standard Population
  • More information about mortality rates for melanoma of the skin 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 melanoma of the skin increased from 596 (380 males and 216 females) in 1982 to 1,455 persons in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar from 5.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 3.9 for females) in 1982 to 5.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. 

Survival

In 2015–2019, individuals diagnosed with melanoma of the skin had a 94% chance (92% for males and 95% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1990–1994 and 2015–2019, five-year relative survival for melanoma of the skin increased from 90% to 94%.

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for melanoma of the skin, 1990–1994 to 2015–2019, by sex
Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for melanoma of the skin, 1990–1994 to 2015–2019, by sex

Notes

Prevalence

At the end of 2018, there were 14,837 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin that year, 65,147 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 5 years (from 2014 to 2018) and 216,408 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 37 years (from 1982 to 2018).

For more information, see Melanoma of the skin 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.

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