Kidney cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C64 (Malignant neoplasm of kidney).

New cases

Kidney cancer was the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2018. It is estimated that it will remain the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2022.

In 2018, there were 3,891 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,587 males and 1,304 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 4,552 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (3,081 males and 1,471 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 65 (or 1.5%) risk of being diagnosed with kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 48 or 2.1% for males and 1 in 102 or 0.98% 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

In 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 14 cases per 100,000 persons (19 for males and 8.7 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 15 cases per 100,000 persons (21 for males and 9.1 for females). The incidence rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 70–74 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for kidney cancer, 1982 to 2018, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables 

The number of new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed increased from 793 (534 males and 259 females) in 1982 to 3,891 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 6.2 cases per 100,000 persons (9.4 for males and 3.7 for females) in 1982 to 14 cases per 100,000 in 2018.

Deaths 

In 2020, there were 896 deaths from kidney cancer in Australia (590 males and 306 females). In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 912 deaths (618 males and 294 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 360 (or 0.28%) risk of dying from kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 256 or 0.39% for males and 1 in 613 or 0.16% 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

In 2020, the age-standardised mortality rate was 2.7 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.0 for males and 1.7 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 2.7 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.9 for males and 1.5 for females). The mortality rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for kidney cancer, 1982 to 2020, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables

The number of deaths from kidney cancer increased from 488 (296 males and 192 females) in 1982 to 896 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 3.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (5.4 for males and 2.8 for females) in 1982 to 2.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2020. 

Survival 

In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with kidney cancer had a 81% chance (80% for males and 81% 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 kidney cancer improved from 53% to 81%. 

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

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables

Prevalence 

At the end of 2017, there were 3,392 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer that year, 14,469 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 34,842 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).