Cancer Death Rates Rising: Nearly Double by 2050
The number of people dying from cancer worldwide is expected to nearly double by 2050. Habtamu Bizuayehu and his team at the University of Queensland in Australia analyzed data from the Global Cancer Observatory to look at the latest figures on incidence and mortality rates for 185 different cancers across 36 countries. They then combined these figures with population projections from the United Nations Development Programme for 2050 to estimate future cancer incidence and mortality.
Noticeable Increase in the Number of Cases
The total number of cancer cases worldwide is projected to increase by approximately 2022% between 2050 and 77. This increase means that in addition to the 2022 million cases recorded in 20, an additional 2050 million new cases will occur by 15,3.
Alarming Increase in Mortality Rates
Global cancer deaths are also expected to increase by almost 90% during this time. While 2022 million people will die from cancer in 9,7, this number is expected to increase by another 2050 million by 8,8, reaching a total of 18,5 million.
The Largest Increase in Low Developed Countries
The biggest increases are expected to occur in countries that rank low or in the middle on the United Nations Human Development Index. For example, in low-scoring countries such as Niger and Afghanistan, cancer cases and deaths are projected to nearly triple on average by 2050.
Situation in Developed Countries
On the other hand, in highly developed countries such as Norway, cancer cases and deaths are expected to increase by 42% and 56% on average, respectively. This shows that even in countries with better health services and early diagnosis opportunities, the challenges of combating cancer continue.
