The statistics on this page incorporate endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma and other cancers of the womb. Endometrial cancer accounts for around 90-95 per cent of uterine cancer diagnoses.

Uterine cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C54 (Malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri) and C55 (Malignant neoplasm of uterus, part unspecified). The statistics on this page incorporate endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma and other cancers of the womb. Statistics for uterine sarcoma are not reported separately.  

New cases

In 2018, uterine cancer was the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in females. It is estimated that it will remain the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer among females in 2022.

In 2018, there were 2,974 new cases of uterine cancer diagnosed in Australia. In 2022, it is estimated that 3,343 new cases of uterine cancer will be diagnosed in Australia. In 2022, it is estimated that a female has a 1 in 44 (or 2.3%) risk of being diagnosed with uterine cancer by the age of 85.

Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia among females, 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 20 cases per 100,000 females. In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will remain at 20 cases per 100,000 females. The incidence rate for uterine cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 65–69 years and then decreasing.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for uterine cancer, 1982 to 2018

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about incidence rates for uterine cancer over time, by age, 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 uterine cancer diagnosed increased from 942 in 1982 to 2,974 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 14 cases per 100,000 females in 1982 to 20 cases per 100,000 females in 2018.

Deaths

In 2020, uterine cancer was the tenth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the ninth most common cause of death from cancer in 2022.

In 2020, there were 561 deaths from uterine cancer in Australia. In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 667 deaths. In 2022, it is estimated that a female has a 1 in 232 (or 0.43%) risk of dying from uterine cancer by the age of 85.

Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia among females, 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 3.3 deaths per 100,000 females. In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 3.7 deaths per 100,000 females. The mortality rate for uterine cancer is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for uterine cancer, 1982 to 2020

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about mortality rates for uterine cancer over time, by age, 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 uterine cancer increased from 222 in 1982 to 561 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained the same from 3.3 deaths per 100,000 females in 1982 to 3.3 deaths per 100,000 females in 2020. 

Survival

In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with uterine cancer had a 83% chance 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 uterine cancer improved from 78% to 83%.

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for uterine cancer, 1989–1993 to 2014–2018

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 uterine cancer over time, by age, 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 2,665 people living who had been diagnosed with uterine cancer that year, 11,511 people living who had been diagnosed with uterine cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 33,601 people living who had been diagnosed with uterine cancer in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).

For more information, see Uterine 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.