Lung cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in men and the third most commonly occurring cancer in women. There were 2 million new cases in 2018. The top 25 countries with the highest incidence of lung cancer in 2018 are given in the tables below.

The Continuous Update Project Panel judged there was strong evidence that drinking water containing arsenic and taking high-dose beta-carotene supplements increase the risk of lung cancer. There is some evidence that consuming red meat, processed meat and alcoholic drinks might increase the risk of lung cancer. There is some evidence that the risk of lung cancer might be decreased by being physically active, consuming fruit and vegetables (current smokers), consuming foods containing retinol, beta-carotene or carotenoids, consuming foods containing vitamin C (current smokers), and consuming foods containing isoflavones (people who have never smoked). Read about all the evidence in our Third Expert Report.

Age-standardised rates are used in the tables. This is a summary measure of the rate of disease that a population would have if it had a standard age structure. Standardisation is necessary when comparing populations that differ with respect to age because age has a powerful influence on the risk of dying from cancer.

Lung cancer rates: both sexes

Hungary had the highest rate of lung cancer in 2018, followed by Serbia.

Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
1 Hungary 56.7
2 Serbia 49.8
3 New Caledonia (France) 42.3
4 Greece 40.5
5 French Polynesia 39.8
6 Montenegro 39.7
7 Belgium 39.0
8 Guam 37.9
9 Turkey 36.9
10 Denmark 36.6
11 Poland 36.5
12 North Korea 36.2
13= Bosnia & Herzegovina 36.1
13= France (metropolitan) 36.1
15 Samoa 35.4
16= China 35.1
16= US 35.1
18 Macedonia 34.1
19= Germany 33.7
19= Ireland 33.7
21 Netherlands 33.3
22 Slovenia 32.9
23 Croatia 32.5
24 UK 32.5
25 Slovakia 31.2

Lung cancer rates in men

Hungary had the highest rate of lung cancer in men 2018, followed by Serbia.

Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
1 Hungary 77.4
2 Serbia 71.6
3 Turkey 70.6
4 Greece 67.8
5 Montenegro 62.9
6 Bosnia & Herzegovina 62.4
7 New Caledonia (France) 59.9
8 Armenia 58.5
9= French Polynesia 55.7
9= Macedonia 55.7
11 Belarus 54.5
12 Slovakia 54.3
13 Guam 53.7
14 Poland 52.7
15 Lithuania 52.6
16 Belgium 52.2
17 Latvia 51.8
18 Estonia 51.4
19 France (metropolitan) 51.3
20 Croatia 50.9
21 Romania 50.7
22 Moldova 50.5
23 Bulgaria 50.1
24 Russia 48.2
25 North Korea 48.1

Lung cancer rates in women

Hungary had the highest rate of lung cancer in 2018, followed by Denmark.

Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
1 Hungary 41.4
2 Denmark 36.3
3 Netherlands 32.7
4 Iceland 32.5
5 Serbia 30.9
6 US 30.8
7 UK 30.2
8 Canada 29.3
9= Ireland 29.2
9= Norway 29.2
11 Belgium 28.1
12 Samoa 28.0
13= Germany 27.4
13= North Korea 27.4
15 Brunei 26.6
16 New Zealand 26.4
17 New Caledonia (France) 26.0
18 Poland 24.5
19 Guam 24.3
20 Cuba 24.1
21 Australia 23.6
22 French Polynesia 23.4
23 Austria 23.3
24 China 22.8
25 France (metropolitan) 22.5