The global fight against cancer is expected to become even more challenging, with the World Health Organization (WHO) projecting that cancer cases could nearly double by 2050 as populations grow older and exposure to preventable risk factors continues.
According to the WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) projects a 66.7 percent increase in global cancer incidence by 2050. Every region is expected to experience a rise in cancer cases, with the steepest increases projected in Africa (125.2 percent) and the Eastern Mediterranean (109.8 percent).
Cancer remains the world’s second leading cause of death, accounting for an estimated 20.6 million new cases and nearly 10 million deaths each year, the report said.
The sharpest increases in cancer incidence are expected in low-income countries, where cases are projected to rise by 133.3 percent, followed by lower-middle-income countries at 86.5 percent.
Asia, meanwhile, continues to account for the largest share of global cancer cases, representing 53.1 percent of the total, largely because of its population size. In the Philippines, data from the Global Cancer Observatory recorded 149,852 new cancer cases and 86,338 cancer-related deaths in 2024.
Aging populations
The report attributed the growing cancer burden to ageing populations, modifiable risk factors, and infectious agents. Among the leading contributors worldwide are tobacco use, infections, alcohol consumption, and high body mass index.
WHO identified tobacco use as a major risk factor for multiple types of cancer. At the same time, it noted encouraging progress in tobacco control, with smoking prevalence among people aged 15 and older declining from 29.4 percent in 2005 to 19.5 percent in 2024.
The report also highlighted the increasing burden of cancer among younger adults, noting a significant rise in cancer incidence among people under the age of 50 between 1990 and 2019. It emphasized the need for stronger global leadership to improve cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and long-term care.
To strengthen cancer control, WHO urged countries to establish comprehensive national cancer prevention and control plans supported by updated clinical guidelines.
The agency also identified sustainable financing, adequate numbers of trained healthcare professionals, and reliable access to essential medicines as critical priorities.
Beyond strengthening health systems, WHO emphasized the importance of adopting a people-centered approach to cancer care-one that prioritizes shared decision-making, community participation, and meaningful involvement of patients throughout the continuum of care.
As cancer cases continue to rise worldwide, the report stressed that sustained investments in prevention, early diagnosis, and equitable access to quality care will be essential to reducing the disease’s growing global burden.