Statistics and Graphs

  1. Office of Cancer Survivorship
  2. Statistics and Graphs

Many people don't realize that individuals are considered survivors from the time of a cancer diagnosis through the rest of their life. Learn about key survivorship-related terms, and find survivorship-related statistics and graphs.

For additional cancer-related statistics, please visit NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Silhouette of a group of people with text saying “16.9 million cancer survivors.”
×
Silhouette of a group of people with text saying “16.9 million cancer survivors.”
 

As of January 2022, it is estimated that there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the United States. This represents approximately 5.4% of the population.

Graph showing a projected 31 percent increase in cancer survivors to 22.5 million over the 10 year period from 2020 to 2030.
×
Graph showing a projected 31 percent increase in cancer survivors to 22.5 million over the 10 year period from 2020 to 2030.
 

The number of cancer survivors is projected to increase by 24.4%, to 22.5 million, by 2032.

Graph showing a projected increase of 11 million cancer survivors to 26 million between 2016 and 2040.
×
Graph showing a projected increase of 11 million cancer survivors to 26 million between 2016 and 2040.
 

The number of cancer survivors is projected to grow to 26.0 million by 2040.

Fireworks with text “15.1 million cancer survivors have lived 5+ years since diagnosis”
×
Fireworks with text “15.1 million cancer survivors have lived 5+ years since diagnosis”
 

Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 or more years after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase approximately 30%, to 16.3 million.

Man in activewear running up steps with text “69 percent of survivors have lived 5+ years since diagnosis”
×
Man in activewear running up steps with text “69 percent of survivors have lived 5+ years since diagnosis”
 

In 2022, 69% of survivors have lived 5+ years since their diagnosis; 47% of survivors have lived 10+ years since their diagnosis; and 18% of survivors have lived 20+ years since their diagnosis.

A man and woman walking a dog on an outdoor path with text “47 percent of survivors have lived 10+ years since diagnosis”
×
A man and woman walking a dog on an outdoor path with text “47 percent of survivors have lived 10+ years since diagnosis”
 

In 2022, 69% of survivors have lived 5+ years since their diagnosis; 47% of survivors have lived 10+ years since their diagnosis; and 18% of survivors have lived 20+ years since their diagnosis.

Two women in activewear in a one-armed embrace smiling at each other with text “18 percent of survivors have lived 20+ years since diagnosis”
×
Two women in activewear in a one-armed embrace smiling at each other with text “18 percent of survivors have lived 20+ years since diagnosis”
 

In 2022, 69% of survivors have lived 5+ years since their diagnosis; 47% of survivors have lived 10+ years since their diagnosis; and 18% of survivors have lived 20+ years since their diagnosis.

A group of five older adults in activewear smiling and laughing with text “67 percent of survivors are 65 or older.”
×
A group of five older adults in activewear smiling and laughing with text “67 percent of survivors are 65 or older.”
 

67% of survivors are currently age 65 or older.

It is estimated that by 2040, 74% of cancer survivors in the United States will be age 65 or older.

A couple of people walking in the woods with the text: 623,405 people living with metastatic cancers ”
×
A couple of people walking in the woods with the text: 623,405 people living with metastatic cancers ”
 

There are 623,405 people living with metastatic breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, or bladder cancer or metastatic melanoma in the United States, and that number is expected to increase to 693,452 by the year 2025.

Five women of diverse ages wearing pink and standing in a line with text “Female breast cancer 23 percent or 4.1 million.”
×
Five women of diverse ages wearing pink and standing in a line with text “Female breast cancer 23 percent or 4.1 million.”
 

Among today's survivors, the most common cancer types represented include female breast (22%, 4.1 million), prostate (20%, 3.5 million), colorectal (8%, 1.4 million), melanoma (8%, 1.5 million), and gynecologic (8%, 1.4 million).*

Four men sitting at a table with a laptop and coffee with text “Prostate cancer 22 percent or 3.5 million.”
×
Four men sitting at a table with a laptop and coffee with text “Prostate cancer 22 percent or 3.5 million.”
 

Among today's survivors, the most common cancer types represented include female breast (22%, 4.1 million), prostate (20%, 3.5 million), colorectal (8%, 1.4 million), melanoma (8%, 1.5 million), and gynecologic (8%, 1.4 million).*

A man and woman walking a dog on a grassy hill while holding hands with text “Colorectal cancer 9 percent or 1.4 million.”
×
A man and woman walking a dog on a grassy hill while holding hands with text “Colorectal cancer 9 percent or 1.4 million.”
 

Among today's survivors, the most common cancer types represented include female breast (22%, 4.1 million), prostate (20%, 3.5 million), colorectal (8%, 1.4 million), melanoma (8%, 1.5 million), and gynecologic (8%, 1.4 million).*

 

* Note: People may be represented more than once in these percentages if they have been diagnosed with more than one cancer. For example, a man who has survived both colorectal cancer and prostate cancer will be included as both a colorectal cancer survivor and as a prostate cancer survivor. Therefore, the sum of the percentages may be more than 100%.

1American Cancer Society. Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2022-2024. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2022.

2Gallicchio L, Devasia TP, Tonorezos E, Mollica MA, Mariotto A. Estimation of the Number of Individuals Living With Metastatic Cancer in the United States, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2022;, djac158, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djac158

Last Updated
May 02, 2024