Cancer incidence by age

In the UK in 2017-2019, on average each year more than a third of new cases (36%) were in people aged 75 and over.[1-4]

Age-specific incidence rates rise from age 25-29 more steeply for females than males. Rates for males from age 55-59 increase more steeply than females, and drop for the oldest age groups for both. The highest rates are in the 85 to 89 age group for females and males.

Incidence rates are significantly higher for females than males in the younger age groups and significantly lower for females than males in the older age groups. The gap is widest at age 40 to 44, when the age-specific incidence rate is 2.1 times higher for females than males.

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (C00-C97 Excl. C44), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2017-2019

Children aged 0-14, and young people aged 15-24, each account for less than one per cent of all new cancer cases in the UK (2017-2019). [1-4] Adults aged 25-49 contribute around a tenth (9%) of all new cancer cases, with twice as many cases in females as males in this age group.[1-4] Adults aged 50-74 account for more than half (54%) of all new cancer cases, and elderly people aged 75+ account for more than a third (36%), with slightly fewer cases in females than males in both age groups. There are more people aged 50-74 than aged 75+ in the population overall, hence the number of cancer cases is higher in 50-74s, but incidence rates are higher in 75+s. 

The five most common cancers in males vary considerably by age group, with particular differences in the cancer types diagnosed in children and young people, compared with the types diagnosed in older people.[1-5]

The Five Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancers in Males, by Age, UK, 2016-2018

In boys (aged 0-14) in the UK, leukaemias are the most common cancers, accounting for around a third (32%) of all cases in 1997-2016.[5]

In male young people (aged 15-24) in the UK, germ cell tumours are the most common cancers, accounting for a quarter (25%) of all cases in 1997-2016.[5]

In males aged 25-49 in the UK, testicular cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for around 3 in 20 (14%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4]

In males aged 50-74 in the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for almost a third (31%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4]

In males aged 75+ in the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for a quarter (25%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4]

The five most common cancers in females vary considerably by age group, with particular differences in the cancer types diagnosed in children and young people, compared with the types diagnosed in older people.[1-5]

The Five Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancers in Females, by Age, UK, 2016-2018

In girls (aged 0-14) in the UK, leukaemias are the most common cancers, accounting for almost a third (31%) of all cases in 1997-2016.[5]

In female young people (aged 15-24) in the UK, carcinomas and melanomas are the most common cancers, accounting for more than 4 in ten (43%) of all cases in 1997-2016.[5]

In females aged 25-49 in the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for more than 4 in 10 (43%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4]

In females aged 50-74 in the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for around a third (34%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4

In females aged 75+ in the UK, breast cancer is the most common cancer, accounting for more around a fifth (21%) of all cases in 2016-2018.[1-4]

All cancers combined incidence rates have increased overall in all broad age groups in females and males combined in the UK since the early 1990s.[1-4] Rates in 0-24s have increased by 19%, in 25-49s have increased by 22%, in 50-74s have increased by 13% and in 75+s have increased by 9%.

All Cancers Excluding Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (ICD-10 C00-97 Excl C44), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, By Age, UK, 1993-2018

All cancers for people aged 0-24 includes all malignant tumours (ICD-10 codes: C00-C97) and all non-malignant brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours (ICD-10 codes: D32-D33, D35.2-D35.4, D42-D43 and D44.3-D44.5). All cancers for all other age groups do not include non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD-10 codes: C44) or non-malignant brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours.

For most cancer types, incidence trends largely reflect changing prevalence of risk factors and improvements in diagnosis and data recording. Recent incidence trends are influenced by risk factor prevalence in years past, and trends by age group reflect risk factor exposure in birth cohorts.