Liver cancer in Australia statistics
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Liver cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C22 (Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts).
Estimated number of new cases of liver cancer diagnosed in 2021
2,832 = 2,050 males + 782 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2021
1.9%
Estimated number of deaths from liver cancer in 2021
2,424 = 1,599 males + 825 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2021
4.9%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2013–2017)
20.9%
People living with liver cancer at the end of 2016 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2012 to 2016)
3,773
New cases
In 2017, there were 2,174 new cases of liver cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,558 males and 616 females). In 2021, it is estimated that 2,832 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,050 males and 782 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 103 (or 0.97%) risk of being diagnosed with liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 71 or 1.4% for males and 1 in 188 or 0.53% for females).
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Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2021
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
In 2017, the age-standardised incidence rate was 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons (11 for males and 4.1 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will increase to 8.9 cases per 100,000 persons (14 for males and 4.7 for females). The incidence rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 80–84 years.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for liver cancer, 1982 to 2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about incidence rates for liver cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)
The number of new cases of liver cancer diagnosed increased from 228 (167 males and 61 females) in 1982 to 2,174 in 2017. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 1.8 cases per 100,000 persons (2.9 for males and 0.9 for females) in 1982 to 7.6 cases per 100,000 in 2017.
Deaths
In 2019, liver cancer was the seventh most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the seventh most common cause of death from cancer in 2021.
In 2019, there were 2,187 deaths from liver cancer in Australia (1,448 males and 739 females). In 2021, it is estimated that there will be 2,424 deaths (1,599 males and 825 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 120 (or 0.83%) risk of dying from liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 90 or 1.1% for males and 1 in 183 or 0.55% for females).
Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2021
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about mortality rates for the most common causes of cancer death can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
In 2019, the age-standardised mortality rate was 7.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (9.9 for males and 4.4 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 7.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (10 for males and 4.8 for females). The mortality rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age.
Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for liver cancer, 1982 to 2019, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about mortality rates for liver cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)
The number of deaths from liver cancer increased from 282 (185 males and 97 females) in 1982 to 2,187 in 2019. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate increased from 2.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.3 for males and 1.5 for females) in 1982 to 7.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.
Survival
In 2013–2017, individuals diagnosed with liver cancer had a 21 % chance (22% for males and 19% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1988–1992 and 2013–2017, five-year relative survival for liver cancer improved from 6.6% to 21%.
Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for liver cancer, 1988–1992 to 2013–2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for liver cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Relative survival rate’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival)
Prevalence
At the end of 2016, there were 1,476 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer that year, 3,773 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2012 to 2016) and 5,560 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 35 years (from 1982 to 2016).
For more information, see Liver cancer on the NCCI website
The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.