Global cancer burden to exceed $33.2 trillion, 35m cases yearly by 2050
The WHO projects that the global economic burden of cancer will exceed $33.2 trillion by 2050, with annual cases rising to 35 million. The report highlights persistent inequalities in cancer care, noting that survival rates remain significantly lower in low-income countries.
Why it matters
The staggering economic and human cost underscores the urgent need for global health policy reform and equitable access to diagnostic and treatment services.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Global economic cost of cancer is projected to surpass $33.2 trillion by 2050, with nearly 35 million people expected to develop the disease each year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The projection is contained in the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, developed in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which assessed global progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care, while warning that widening inequalities in access to life-saving services continue to undermine efforts to reduce the disease burden.
According to the report, cancer remains the world’s second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease, accounting for an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths annually. More than 26,000 people die from the disease every day, while about one in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in