Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Deaths from cancer was 174,820 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
174,820 deaths
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
11th
of 194 countries
All-time high
174,820 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
151,322 deaths
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom, 2000–2021

050.0k100.0k150.0k2000201020212000: 151.3k deaths2001: 156.4k deaths2002: 156.8k deaths2003: 155.9k deaths2004: 154.9k deaths2005: 155.0k deaths2006: 156.0k deaths2007: 157.5k deaths2008: 158.7k deaths2009: 158.0k deaths2010: 159.2k deaths2011: 161.4k deaths2012: 165.2k deaths2013: 165.4k deaths2014: 166.5k deaths2015: 167.8k deaths2016: 169.4k deaths2017: 169.5k deaths2018: 174.7k deaths2019: 171.5k deaths2020: 172.6k deaths2021: 174.8k deaths

Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.

Analysis

In 2021, deaths from cancer in United Kingdom stood at 174,820 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deaths from cancer in United Kingdom peaked at 174,820 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 151,322 deaths, in 2000.

United Kingdom ranks 11th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 151,322 deaths
2001 156,406 deaths +3.4%
2002 156,766 deaths +0.2%
2003 155,930 deaths -0.5%
2004 154,911 deaths -0.7%
2005 155,031 deaths +0.1%
2006 156,036 deaths +0.6%
2007 157,512 deaths +0.9%
2008 158,732 deaths +0.8%
2009 157,962 deaths -0.5%
2010 159,231 deaths +0.8%
2011 161,418 deaths +1.4%
2012 165,200 deaths +2.3%
2013 165,428 deaths +0.1%
2014 166,472 deaths +0.6%
2015 167,762 deaths +0.8%
2016 169,441 deaths +1.0%
2017 169,531 deaths +0.1%
2018 174,668 deaths +3.0%
2019 171,524 deaths -1.8%
2020 172,620 deaths +0.6%
2021 174,820 deaths +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 156,061 deaths 151,322 deaths 158,732 deaths 10
2010s 167,068 deaths 159,231 deaths 174,668 deaths 10
2020s 173,720 deaths 172,620 deaths 174,820 deaths 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 8 Indonesia 241,265 deaths compare
  2. 9 France 179,717 deaths compare
  3. 10 Italy 175,395 deaths compare
  4. 12 Thailand 130,891 deaths compare
  5. 13 Vietnam 121,484 deaths compare
  6. 14 Turkey 118,555 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is deaths from cancer in United Kingdom?
Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom was 174,820 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest deaths from cancer recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 174,820 deaths in 2021.
What is the lowest deaths from cancer recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 151,322 deaths in 2000.
How does United Kingdom rank for deaths from cancer?
United Kingdom ranks 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is deaths from cancer rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths from cancer. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deaths from cancer in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-from-cancer-who/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Deaths from cancer
Unit
deaths
Source
World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Estimated number of deaths from malignant neoplasms in both sexes.