Mesothelioma in Australia statistics
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Mesothelioma incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C45 (Mesothelioma).
Estimated number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in 2021
868 = 693 males + 175 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2021
0.6%
Estimated number of deaths from mesothelioma in 2021
758 = 615 males + 143 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2021
1.5%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2013–2017)
6.4%
People living with mesothelioma at the end of 2016 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2012 to 2016)
1,000
New cases
In 2017, there were 807 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia (670 males and 137 females). In 2021, it is estimated that 868 new cases of mesothelioma will be diagnosed in Australia (693 males and 175 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 325 (or 0.31%) risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 204 or 0.49% for males and 1 in 829 or 0.12% for females).
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 2.7 cases per 100,000 persons (5.0 for males and 0.9 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 2.6 cases per 100,000 persons (4.5 for males and 1.0 for females). The incidence rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 85–89 years.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for mesothelioma, 1982 to 2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
The number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed increased from 157 (135 males and 22 females) in 1982 to 807 in 2017. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 1.2 cases per 100,000 persons (2.3 for males and 0.3 for females) in 1982 to 2.7 cases per 100,000 in 2017.
Deaths
In 2019, there were 731 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia (592 males and 139 females). In 2021, it is estimated that there will be 758 deaths (615 males and 143 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 380 (or 0.26%) risk of dying from mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 235 or 0.43% for males and 1 in 1,039 or 0.10% 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 2.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.1 for males and 0.9 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will remain at 2.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.0 for males and 0.8 for females). The mortality rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 85–89 years.
Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for mesothelioma, 1997 to 2019, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
The number of deaths from mesothelioma increased from 416 (353 males and 63 females) in 1997 to 731 in 2019. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased slightly from 2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.5 for males and 0.7 for females) in 1997 to 2.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.
Survival
In 2013–2017, individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma had a 6.4 % chance (5.3% for males and 11% 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 mesothelioma improved slightly from 5.5% to 6.4%.
Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for mesothelioma, 1988–1992 to 2013–2017, by sex
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2021 web report and supplementary data tables
Prevalence
At the end of 2016, there were 528 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma that year, 1,000 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 5 years (from 2012 to 2016) and 1,228 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 35 years (from 1982 to 2016).
For more information on cancer data, see 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.