Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the US in both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.[12]American Cancer Society. Key statistics for lung cancer. Jan 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
[13]World Health Organization. Lung cancer: fact sheet. Jun 2023 [internet publication].
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lung-cancer
In the US, in 2025, it is estimated that there will be 226,650 new cases of lung cancer and 124,730 deaths from lung cancer.[12]American Cancer Society. Key statistics for lung cancer. Jan 2025 [internet publication].
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
Globally, lung cancer accounted for 1.8 million deaths in 2020.[14]Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249.
https://www.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33538338?tool=bestpractice.com
Age-adjusted lung cancer incidence in the US (2018-2022) is higher in males than in females (53.1 new cases per 100,000 vs. 43.9 cases per 100,000, respectively).[15]National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Cancer stat facts: lung and bronchus cancer [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html
Median age at diagnosis in the US is 71 years.[15]National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Cancer stat facts: lung and bronchus cancer [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html
Incidence rates are highest in non-Hispanic black males.[15]National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. Cancer stat facts: lung and bronchus cancer [internet publication].
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/lungb.html
Globally, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for 85% of all cases.[13]World Health Organization. Lung cancer: fact sheet. Jun 2023 [internet publication].
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lung-cancer
Recent declines in the incidence rate of lung cancer (approximately 2% decrease per year since the mid-2000s in the US and 6.5% decrease in age-standardised incidence globally between 2010 and 2019) may relate to reductions in tobacco use in more recent decades.[16]Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, et al. Cancer statistics, 2021. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 Jan;71(1):7-33.
https://www.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21654
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33433946?tool=bestpractice.com
[17]GBD 2019 Respiratory Tract Cancers Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of respiratory tract cancers and associated risk factors from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Respir Med. 2021 Sep;9(9):1030-49.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00164-8
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34411511?tool=bestpractice.com
However, in 2022, an estimated 11.6% of the US population (28.8 million) still smoked tobacco.[18]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Burden of cigarette use in the US. Oct 2024 [internet publication].
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/resources/data/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html