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 |