Lung and bronchus cancer statistics
Lung and bronchus cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women in Canada.
To provide the most current cancer statistics, statistical methods are used to estimate the number of new cancer cases and deaths until actual data become available.
Incidence and mortality
Incidence is the total number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the number of deaths due to cancer.
Cancer statistics are currently collected, analyzed and reported based on the sex assigned at birth, with male/men and female/women categories. We need to address gaps in how statistics are collected to better understand cancer in transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse people.
It is estimated that in 2024:
- 32,100 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer. This represents 13% of all new cancer cases in 2024.
- 20,700 Canadians will die from lung and bronchus cancer. This represents 23% of all cancer deaths in 2024.
- 14,800 men will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer and 10,900 will die from it.
- 17,300 women will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer and 9,800 will die from it.
- On average, 88 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung and bronchus cancer every day.
- On average, 57 Canadians will die from lung and bronchus cancer every day.
|
Category |
Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
|
New cases |
14,800 | 17,300 |
|
Deaths |
10,900 |
9,800 |
|
5-year net survival (estimates for 2015 to 2017) |
19% |
26% |
Trends in lung and bronchus cancer
In Canadian men, the rate of new lung and bronchus cancer cases began decreasing in 1993. In women, the lung and bronchus cancer rate began decreasing in 2014.
The difference in the rates and trends between the sexes is likely because of differences in tobacco use. More men smoked than women, and men's smoking rates began to decline earlier than women's smoking rates.
In men, the death rate from lung and bronchus cancer began to level off in the late 1980s and has been declining ever since. The death rate for women increased until 2010 but is now decreasing. The rate of decline in mortality is now comparable between men and women for the first time since 1984.
Chances (probability) of developing or dying from lung cancer
It is estimated that about 1 in 14 Canadian men will develop lung and bronchus cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 20 will die from it.
It is estimated that about 1 in 14 Canadian women will develop lung and bronchus cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 21 will die from it.
For more information about cancer statistics, go to Canadian Cancer Statistics.
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