Lung cancer death rates in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Lung cancer death rates was 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
19.74 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
9th
of 111 countries
All-time high
24.37 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2008
All-time low
6.63 deaths per 100,000 people
in 1950
Years of data
72
1950–2021
Lung cancer death rates 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 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people for lung cancer death rates in 2021.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lung cancer death rates in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 24.37 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.63 deaths per 100,000 people, in 1950.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 9th out of 111 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 72 years of available data.
Lung cancer death rates in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1951 | 6.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 6.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1953 | 7.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 7.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 7.42 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 7.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 7.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 8.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 8.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1960 | 8.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 9.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1962 | 9.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 10.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 10.66 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 11.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 12.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 12.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1969 | 13.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 13.75 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 14.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 14.92 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 15.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 16.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.2% |
| 1975 | 16.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 16.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 17.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 18.4 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 19.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 19.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 19.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 20.74 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 20.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 22.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 21.97 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 22.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 22.75 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 23.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 23.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 23.31 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 23.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 23.45 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 23.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 23.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 23.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 23.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 22.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 23.1 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 22.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 22.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 22.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 22.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 22.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 22.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 23 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 23.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 23.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 24.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 23.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 23.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 23.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 23.75 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 23.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 23.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 22.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 21.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 21.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 20.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.18 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.27 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.45 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.63 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 11 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.34 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.75 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.08 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.58 deaths per 100,000 people | 23.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 23.45 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.49 deaths per 100,000 people | 24.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.77 deaths per 100,000 people | 20.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 23.77 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.08 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.74 deaths per 100,000 people | 20.42 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 6 Brunei Darussalam 21.6 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Canada 20.63 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 8 Norway 19.96 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 10 New Zealand 19.55 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 11 Cuba 18.87 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 12 Croatia 18.35 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 lung cancer death rates in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Lung cancer death rates in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 19.74 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 lung cancer death rates recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 24.37 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008.
- What is the lowest lung cancer death rates recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.63 deaths per 100,000 people in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for lung cancer death rates?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th out of 111 countries with data for 2021.
- Is lung cancer death rates rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Lung cancer death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Reported deaths from trachea, bronchus, lung cancers in females in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.