Soft tissue sarcoma statistics in Australia

New cases

In 2021, there were 2,330 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in Australia (1,291 males and 1,039 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 2,626 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma will be diagnosed in Australia (1,500 males and 1,126 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 127 (or 0.79%) risk of being diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma by the age of 85 (1 in 113 or 0.89% for males and 1 in 146 or 0.69% for females).

In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate for soft tissue sarcoma was 9.2 cases per 100,000 persons (11 for males and 7.8 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 9.5 cases per 100,000 persons (12 for males and 7.8 for females). The incidence rate for soft tissue sarcoma is expected to increase with age.

The number of new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed increased from 530 (257 males and 273 females) in 1982 to 2,330 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 4.7 cases per 100,000 persons (4.9 for males and 4.6 for females) in 1982 to 9.2 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.

Deaths

In 2021, there were 596 deaths from soft tissue sarcoma (305 males and 291 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 654 deaths (329 males and 325 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 523 (or 0.19%) risk of dying from soft tissue sarcoma by the age of 85 (1 in 534 or 0.19% for males and 1 in 512 or 0.20% for females).

In 2021, the age-standardised mortality rate for soft tissue sarcoma was 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (2.6 for males and 2.2 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (2.6 for males and 2.2 for females). The mortality rate for soft tissue sarcoma is expected to increase with age.

The number of deaths from soft tissue sarcoma increased from 423 (210 males and 213 females) in 2007 to 596 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained the same at 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (2.7 for males and 2.2 for females) in 2007 and 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2021.

Survival

In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma had a 69% chance (69% for males and 69% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1987–1991 and 2017–2021, five-year relative survival for soft tissue sarcoma increased from 53% to 69%.

Prevalence

At the end of 2021, there were 2,153 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma that year, 7,753 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 21,802 people living who had been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).

For more information on cancer data, see 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 chart.