10 Deadliest Cancers Globally in 2024: Lung Cancer Dominates

Cancer remains one of the biggest health threats in the world. The latest Global Cancer Statistics 2024 report, released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), reveals the disease caused approximately 9.8 million deaths worldwide throughout the year. Among the dozens of cancer types analysed, lung cancer remains the leading cause of death, followed by colorectal, liver, breast, and stomach cancers. The report, compiled through the GLOBOCAN 2024 project, includes estimates of incidence and mortality for 34 cancer types across 186 countries. Overall, IARC estimates there were 20.6 million new cancer cases in 2024. The findings indicate the cancer burden continues to grow alongside the global population, increasing life expectancy, and persistently high exposure to various risk factors. According to IARC, lung cancer accounted for around 1.86 million deaths, representing nearly one-fifth of all cancer deaths globally. This high figure is still linked to smoking as the primary risk factor, in addition to exposure to air pollution and carcinogenic substances in the environment and workplace. Colorectal cancer ranks second, becoming one of the leading causes of cancer death in many countries. It is followed by liver cancer, breast cancer, and stomach cancer, which consistently rank among the world’s most deadly cancers. The list demonstrates that beyond lifestyle-related cancers, those influenced by infections and genetic factors also remain significant causes of death across various regions. IARC projects that cancer cases and deaths will continue to rise with global population growth and ageing. To curb these numbers, the agency emphasises the importance of prevention, early detection through screening, and improved access to diagnosis and treatment, alongside reducing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and exposure to air pollution.