Kidney cancer in Australia statistics
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Kidney cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C64 (Malignant neoplasm of kidney).
Estimated number of new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in 2021
4,377 = 2,936 males + 1,441 females
Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2021
2.9%
Estimated number of deaths from kidney cancer in 2021
935 = 638 males + 297 females
Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2021
1.9%
Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2013–2017)
80%
People living with kidney cancer at the end of 2016 (diagnosed in the 5 year period 2012 to 2016)
13,897
New cases
Kidney cancer was the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2017. It is estimated that it will remain the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2021.
In 2017, there were 3,703 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,456 males and 1,247 females). In 2021, it is estimated that 4,377 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,936 males and 1,441 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 67 (or 1.5%) risk of being diagnosed with kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 50 or 2.0% for males and 1 in 102 or 0.98% 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 13 cases per 100,000 persons (18 for males and 8.5 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will increase to 14 cases per 100,000 persons (20 for males and 9.1 for females). The incidence rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 70–74 years.
Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for kidney cancer, 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 kidney cancer diagnosed increased from 793 (534 males and 259 females) in 1982 to 3,703 in 2017. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 6.2 cases per 100,000 persons (9.4 for males and 3.7 for females) in 1982 to 13 cases per 100,000 in 2017.
Deaths
In 2019, there were 944 deaths from kidney cancer in Australia (637 males and 307 females). In 2021, it is estimated that there will be 935 deaths (638 males and 297 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 337 (or 0.30%) risk of dying from kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 239 or 0.42% for males and 1 in 582 or 0.17% 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 3.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.5 for males and 1.7 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 2.8 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.2 for males and 1.6 for females). The mortality rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age.
Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for kidney cancer, 1982 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 kidney cancer increased from 488 (296 males and 192 females) in 1982 to 944 in 2019. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 3.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (5.4 for males and 2.8 for females) in 1982 to 3.0 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.
Survival
In 2013–2017, individuals diagnosed with kidney cancer had a 80 % chance (79% for males and 80% 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 kidney cancer improved from 52% to 80%.
Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for kidney cancer, 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 3,375 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer that year, 13,897 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2012 to 2016) and 32,986 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer 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.