Cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Cancer death rate by age group was 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
1.2 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
66th
of 111 countries
All-time high
8.47 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1952
All-time low
0.5075 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2008
Years of data
72
1950–2021
Cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom, 1950–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people for cancer death rate by age group in 2021.
That represents a change of down 6.3% on the previous year and down 42.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom peaked at 8.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 1952 and was at its lowest, 0.5075 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2008.
United Kingdom ranks 66th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.5 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 7.74 deaths per 100,000 people | +19.1% |
| 1952 | 8.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.5% |
| 1953 | 8.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1954 | 6.75 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.7% |
| 1955 | 7.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1956 | 6.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.4% |
| 1957 | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.3% |
| 1958 | 8.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 6.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.5% |
| 1960 | 7.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.9% |
| 1961 | 6.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.8% |
| 1962 | 7.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.6% |
| 1963 | 7.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 7.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.2% |
| 1966 | 5.39 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.7% |
| 1967 | 7.54 deaths per 100,000 people | +39.9% |
| 1968 | 4.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -34.5% |
| 1969 | 5.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 6.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +34.3% |
| 1971 | 5.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -24.8% |
| 1972 | 6.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +17.0% |
| 1973 | 5.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1974 | 5.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1975 | 5.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.1% |
| 1977 | 4.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -23.8% |
| 1978 | 5.79 deaths per 100,000 people | +28.9% |
| 1979 | 3.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -36.9% |
| 1980 | 3.95 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 3.97 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 4.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 4.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 3.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.0% |
| 1985 | 3.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 people | -20.0% |
| 1987 | 3.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 1988 | 3.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 3.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 2.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -23.5% |
| 1991 | 3.15 deaths per 100,000 people | +22.1% |
| 1992 | 2.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -35.4% |
| 1993 | 2.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +36.2% |
| 1994 | 3.43 deaths per 100,000 people | +23.9% |
| 1995 | 1.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -44.3% |
| 1996 | 2.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +38.5% |
| 1997 | 2.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.4% |
| 1998 | 2.66 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.7% |
| 1999 | 1.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -25.6% |
| 2000 | 0.7299 deaths per 100,000 people | -63.1% |
| 2001 | 2.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +189.5% |
| 2002 | 1.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.3% |
| 2003 | 1.76 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 2.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +60.9% |
| 2005 | 1.54 deaths per 100,000 people | -45.9% |
| 2006 | 2.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +51.3% |
| 2007 | 2.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.9% |
| 2008 | 0.5075 deaths per 100,000 people | -80.8% |
| 2009 | 1.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +201.5% |
| 2010 | 2.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +64.4% |
| 2011 | 2.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.8% |
| 2012 | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -35.6% |
| 2013 | 1.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 1.42 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 0.639 deaths per 100,000 people | -54.9% |
| 2017 | 1.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +146.1% |
| 2018 | 1.66 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 1.11 deaths per 100,000 people | -33.4% |
| 2020 | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.5% |
| 2021 | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.41 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.59 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.83 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.55 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.43 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.77 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.5075 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.639 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.24 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9864 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0827 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.087 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom?
- Cancer death rate by age group in United Kingdom was 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cancer death rate by age group recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 8.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 1952.
- What is the lowest cancer death rate by age group recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5075 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008.
- How does United Kingdom rank for cancer death rate by age group?
- United Kingdom ranks 66th out of 111 countries with data for 2021.
- Is cancer death rate by age group rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cancer death rate by age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from malignant neoplasms per 100,000 people in both sexes aged less than 1 year.