A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that global cancer cases are projected to increase by 66.7% by 2050, driven by aging populations, population growth, and rising exposure to risk factors such as pollution. However, the burden will not be evenly distributed: low- and lower-middle-income countries are expected to see the steepest rises, underscoring what the WHO calls “profound inequity” in cancer care.
The largest increases are forecast for Africa (125.2%) and the Eastern Mediterranean (109.8%), regions where access to diagnostics and treatment remains severely limited. In high-income countries, five-year survival rates for breast and childhood cancers exceed 85%, but in low-income countries they drop below 45%, according to WHO estimates.
Inequalities Within and Between Countries
The report highlights that major gaps in cancer care exist not only between nations but also within them, linked to factors such as education, urban or rural location, ethnicity, gender, disability, indigenous status, and displacement. Late-stage diagnosis remains common even for cancers that could be detected early, hampering effective treatment.
“Whether a person survives cancer should never depend on where they were born or what they earn,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The inequities documented in this report are not inevitable; they are the consequence of choices, and they can be reversed through stronger and unified action.”
While 82% of countries now have national cancer control plans, and scientific innovation is accelerating, the WHO warns that progress has been too slow. “While we are seeing reductions in some cancer rates in countries that have implemented prevention policies, progress has been too slow,” said Elisabete Weiderpass, director of the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). “The cancer profile is evolving, increasingly driven by rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and air pollution. Cancer prevention must remain a political priority.”
Currently, one in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, and 92% of the population will have a close family member diagnosed with the disease. In 2024, there were 20.6 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths globally, making cancer the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Among men, the most common cancers are lung and prostate; among women, breast and lung.
The WHO calls on national authorities to strengthen data collection and accountability frameworks, increase investment in implementation, and foster sustained international collaboration linking research, policy, and practice. “The choices we make now and in the coming years will shape the burden and the experience of cancer for years to come,” Tedros said.
For European readers, the report carries particular resonance. While many EU member states have robust cancer screening and treatment programs, disparities persist—especially in Eastern and Southern Europe. Countries like Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria have lower survival rates for several cancers compared to Western European nations such as Sweden, Germany, or France. The WHO’s findings echo concerns raised by the European Commission’s Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, which aims to reduce cancer mortality by 30% by 2030 through prevention, early detection, and equitable access.
The report also underscores the role of environmental factors. Air pollution, a growing concern in cities like Warsaw, Milan, and London, is linked to rising lung cancer rates even among non-smokers. The WHO’s warning comes as the AI for Good Summit in Geneva highlights how technology could improve diagnostics, but only if deployed equitably.
Without urgent action, the gap in cancer outcomes between rich and poor countries—and between different communities within Europe—will only widen. The WHO’s message is clear: political commitment must translate into faster, more equitable implementation of prevention, detection, and treatment strategies.
