Death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Death rate from cancer by sex was 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
124.92 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 5.6%
World rank
40th
of 111 countries
All-time high
220.04 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1976
All-time low
124.92 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
72
1950–2021
Death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people for death rate from cancer by sex in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 72 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 220.04 deaths per 100,000 people in 1976 and was at its lowest, 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 40th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 72 years of available data.
Death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 183.42 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 187.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 189.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1953 | 190.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1954 | 193.74 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 194.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 196.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 198.12 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 199.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 201.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 202.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 203.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 206.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 207.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 208.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 210.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 212.92 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 213.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 216.82 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 218.38 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 218.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 215.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 1972 | 217.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 217.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 218.85 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 216.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 220.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 217.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 218.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 219.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 217.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 212.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 210.86 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 214.38 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 218.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 1985 | 217.64 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 213.88 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 213.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 213.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 211.88 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 210.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 209.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 208.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 203.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 199.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 195.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 191.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 185.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 184.84 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 178.97 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 174.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 177.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 175.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 171.86 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 168.57 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 164.54 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 163.77 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 160.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 158.72 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 156.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 153.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 151.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 150.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 147.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 145.88 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 144.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 142.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 139.8 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 140.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 134.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 132.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 193.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 183.42 deaths per 100,000 people | 201.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 209.95 deaths per 100,000 people | 202.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 218.38 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 217.92 deaths per 100,000 people | 215.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 220.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 214.38 deaths per 100,000 people | 210.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 218.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 196.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 178.97 deaths per 100,000 people | 210.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 167.23 deaths per 100,000 people | 156.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 177.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 145.11 deaths per 100,000 people | 134.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 153.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 128.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people | 132.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 37 Hong Kong, China 125.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Ireland 125.86 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 39 Netherlands 125.25 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 41 Norway 123.62 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 42 Saint Lucia 123.14 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 43 Belgium 120.95 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Death rate from cancer by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 124.92 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 death rate from cancer by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 220.04 deaths per 100,000 people in 1976.
- What is the lowest death rate from cancer by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 124.92 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for death rate from cancer by sex?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 40th out of 111 countries with data for 2021.
- Is death rate from cancer by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Death rate from cancer by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Reported deaths from malignant neoplasms in males in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.