92% of people will be affected by cancer at least once in their lifetime, says WHO
One in five people will get cancer. But accounting for ripple effects on families, roughly 92% of people worldwide will be infected with the disease at least once in their lifetime, according to the Global Cancer Status Report 2026, released July 8 by the WHO and its cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Also read: If you sit at work for more than 30 minutes: This daily office habit increases cancer risk, a new study warns; recommends light exercise for an hour a day
20.6 million diagnoses, rising wages
Last year, an estimated 20.6 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths were recorded in the world; This has made cancer the second cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. The report states that the disease claims the lives of more than 26,000 people every day.
If left unchecked, annual cancer cases are predicted to rise to approximately 35 million by 2050, 40% more than current figures.
The report states that India is among the six countries that account for two out of every five children who lose their mothers to cancer worldwide, and that breast and cervical cancers are responsible for most of these deaths, almost half of which are in Asia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, India is among the six countries that account for two out of every five children worldwide who lose their mothers to cancer. The report stated that nearly half of such children are in Asia, and breast and cervical cancer cases are from these countries. This is the largest share of deaths.
A disease that bankrupts, isolates and exhausts families
Beyond medical losses, the report paints a stark picture of the human cost of cancer. At least 45 percent of those affected report financial hardship, more than half experience mental health problems, and nearly all caregivers report some form of strain, from unpaid care duties to prolonged grief and social isolation.
Nearly half of patients and their families face devastating healthcare expenses. Even in countries with universal health coverage, indirect costs such as lost income and transportation and child care can be financially devastating. Globally, the economic burden of cancer between 2020 and 2050 is estimated to be equivalent to a 0.55% annual tax on world GDP.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said cancer is a deeply personal disease that affects almost everyone, but survival should never depend on geography or income. He said the inequalities documented in the report resulted from policy choices and could be reversed.
Where you are born determines whether you survive or not
The report’s most striking finding may be the difference in survival between rich and poor countries. In high-income countries, 87 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are alive five years later. In low-income countries, this figure drops to just 42%.
Less than one in three countries currently include cancer care in their universal health insurance package, and only 28% include even the minimum cancer management package in their benefits.
Access to medicines tells a similar story. Availability of the WHO’s top 20 priority cancer drugs ranges from just 9% to 54% in low- and lower-middle-income countries, compared to 68% to 94% in richer countries. In some settings, high out-of-pocket costs result in up to 90% of patients not completing treatment.
The biggest burden is in Asia, with a disproportionate burden in Europe
Asia accounted for the largest share of the global cancer burden in 2024; More than half of all cases (50.7%) and deaths (56.5%) largely reflected population size. Europe contributed to 21% of cases and 20% of deaths despite having only 9% of the world’s population. Many countries in Africa and parts of Asia reported lower numbers of cases but disproportionately higher death rates; This indicates poor access to diagnosis and treatment.
Also read: Screening for cancer up close and personal: A revolution is taking place in cancer diagnosis
Lung cancer remains the world’s deadliest cancer. While lung, prostate and colorectal cancers are more common in men, breast, lung and colorectal cancers constitute the greatest burden in women.
Almost 4 in 10 cases are preventable
The report noted that nearly 40% of cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors such as HPV, hepatitis B and C, and H. pylori, as well as alcohol consumption, tobacco use, high body mass index, and physical inactivity.
IARC Director Elisabete Weiderpass said that progress is very slow even in countries where prevention policies are implemented, and noted that the cancer profile is increasingly caused by obesity, inactivity, malnutrition and air pollution.
Some won but not enough
The report records measurable gains. Global tobacco use has fallen by 27% since 2010, helping to reduce lung cancer cases and deaths in some regions. Infection-related cancers are also decreasing, helped by expanded vaccination coverage and improved water, sanitation and hygiene.
National cancer control plans have become much more common; This rate, which was 50% in 2010, is now implemented in 82% of the countries. HPV vaccine has been added to vaccination programs in 85% of countries, but actual first dose coverage among girls is only 31%, still well below the 90% target for 2030. In high-income countries, 74% of women have been screened for cervical cancer, and early detection catches most breast cancers. cancers. Registered clinical trials increased at an annual rate of 7.3% between 2005 and 2021.
Even so, WHO warned that these gains were not translating into life-saving actions quickly enough. While only 12 countries are currently on track to reduce premature cancer deaths by a third by 2030, 48 countries show that premature cancer deaths are actually increasing.
The authors of the report called on governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, the private sector and WHO to work together, to include cancer care in universal health coverage and to place people with experience with the disease at the center of health systems.
