Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most commonly occurring cancer in men and the 11th most commonly occurring cancer in women. There were 460,000 new cases in 2018. The top 20 countries with the highest rates of pancreatic cancer in 2018 are given in the tables below.

The Continuous Update Project Panel judged there is strong evidence that greater body fatness and greater adult attained height increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. There is some evidence that consuming red meat, processed meat, alcoholic drinks, foods containing saturated fatty acids and foods and drinks containing fructose might increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. 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.

Pancreatic cancer rates: both sexes

Hungary had the highest rate of pancreatic cancer in 2018, followed by Uruguay.

Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
1 Hungary 10.8
2 Uruguay 10.7
3 Moldova 10.5
3 Latvia 10.3
5 Japan 9.7
6 Slovakia 9.6
7 Estonia 9.2
8 Czech Republic 9.0
9= Armenia 8.9
9= France (metropolitan) 8.9
11 Serbia 8.8
12= Austria 8.7
12= Belgium 8.7
14 New Caledonia (France) 8.6
15 Bulgaria 8.4
16= Germany 8.3
16= Malta 8.3
18 Slovenia 8.2
19= Bosnia & Herzegovina 8.0
19= Croatia 8.0
19= French Guiana 8.0

Pancreatic cancer rates in men

    Latvia and Moldova had the highest rates of pancreatic cancer in men in 2018.

    Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
    1= Latvia 15.3
    1= Moldova 15.3
    3 Estonia 14.2
    4 Hungary 12.9
    5 Uruguay 12.0
    6 Slovakia 11.9
    7 Japan 11.7
    8 Armenia 11.5
    9 Bulgaria 11.4
    10 Czech Republic 11.1
    11 France (metropolitan) 10.8
    12= Belarus 10.5
    12= Serbia 10.5
    14 Ukraine 10.1
    15 Croatia 10.0
    16= Slovenia 9.9
    16= Macedonia 9.9
    18 Singapore 9.8
    19= Lithuania 9.7
    19= Malta 9.7

    Pancreatic cancer rates in women

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had the highest rate of pancreatic cancer in women in 2018, followed by Uruguay.

    Rank Country Age-standardised rate per 100,000
    1 UAE 10.1
    2 Uruguay 9.6
    2 Hungary 9.1
    4 New Caledonia (France) 8.1
    5= Austria 7.9
    5= Belgium 7.9
    7 Japan 7.7
    8 Slovakia 7.6
    9 Germany 7.4
    10 Samoa 7.3
    11= Czech Republic 7.2
    11= Serbia 7.2
    13 France (metropolitan) 7.1
    14= Denmark 7.0
    14= Finland 7.0
    14= French Guiana 7.0
    17= Armenia 6.9
    17= Brunei 6.9
    17= Malta 6.9
    17= Sweden 6.9