Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStatisticsU.S. RatesRisk Factors
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Statistics
U.S. Rates
Risk Factors
The country with the highest lung cancer rate is Hungary. High smoking rates, particularly among men, and significantair pollutionare top risk factors for lung cancer in Hungary. Challenges in early diagnosis and treatment, along with unhealthy lifestyle factors, like poor diet and alcohol use, further worsen the situation.
After Hungary, the countries with the next highest lung cancer rates are Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Belgium, and Turkiye, respectively. The United States is number 13 on the list. In the U.S.,tobacco smokingcauses 90% of lung cancer cases in males and 80% of cases in females. Secondhand tobacco smoke is also a major risk factor.
Westend61 / Getty Images
Lung Cancer Statistics
In this article, lung cancer incidence rates are expressed in four statistics per country:
To provide a bigger picture of how the primary risk factor for lung cancer, tobacco use, influences lung cancer rates, these statistics are also included:
The following data comes from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.The list begins with Hungary, the country with the highest incidence of lung cancer that year.
HungaryLung cancer incidence (overall):50.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):66.6 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):38.1 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:42.4 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.5%Smoking prevalence (female):20.8%SerbiaLung cancer incidence (overall):47.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):68 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):29.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:40 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):34.1%Smoking prevalence (female):28.1%GreeceLung cancer incidence (overall):40.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):56.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):16.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):33.5%Smoking prevalence (female):21.6%MontenegroLung cancer incidence (overall):39.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):61.2 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):19.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.6 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):33%Smoking prevalence (female):26.4%BelgiumLung cancer incidence (overall):38.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):52.2 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):28.1 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:30.5 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):21.6%Smoking prevalence (female):16.4%TurkiyeLung cancer incidence (overall):40 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):74.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):9.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:35.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):41.4%Smoking prevalence (female):16.3%DenmarkLung cancer incidence (overall):36.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):37.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):36.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:33.1 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):16%Smoking prevalence (female):17.3%PolandLung cancer incidence (overall):36.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):52.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):24.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31%Smoking prevalence (female):18%Bosnia-HerzogoveniaLung cancer incidence (overall):37.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):64.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):23.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.1 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):39.1%Smoking prevalence (female):22.6%FranceLung cancer incidence (overall):42.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):59.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):22.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.4 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):32.3%Smoking prevalence (female):21.6%SamoaLung cancer incidence (overall):35.4 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):44 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):28 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:7.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.8%Smoking prevalence (female):13.4%ChinaLung cancer incidence (overall):35.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):47.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):22.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:36.2 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):44.8%Smoking prevalence (female):2%United StatesLung cancer incidence (overall):35.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):40.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):30.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:27.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):14.4%Smoking prevalence (female):11.7%MacedoniaLung cancer incidence (overall):34.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):55.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):14.3 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:28 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):36.1%Smoking prevalence (female):20.8%GermanyLung cancer incidence (overall):33.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):41 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):27.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:25.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):25.1%Smoking prevalence (female):17.1%IrelandLung cancer incidence (overall):33.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):38.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):32.9 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:25.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):19.9%Smoking prevalence (female):17.3%NetherlandsLung cancer incidence (overall):33.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):34.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):33.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.6 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):17%Smoking prevalence (female):17%SloveniaLung cancer incidence (overall):32.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):46.4 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):20.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:28.7 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):18%Smoking prevalence (female):13%CroatiaLung cancer incidence (overall):32.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):35.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):23.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:30.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.8%Smoking prevalence (female):23.4%United Kingdom and Northern IrelandLung cancer incidence (overall):32.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):35.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):29.9 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:26.7 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):35.5%Smoking prevalence (female):30.2%
HungaryLung cancer incidence (overall):50.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):66.6 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):38.1 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:42.4 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.5%Smoking prevalence (female):20.8%
Hungary
SerbiaLung cancer incidence (overall):47.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):68 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):29.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:40 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):34.1%Smoking prevalence (female):28.1%
Serbia
GreeceLung cancer incidence (overall):40.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):56.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):16.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):33.5%Smoking prevalence (female):21.6%
Greece
MontenegroLung cancer incidence (overall):39.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):61.2 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):19.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.6 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):33%Smoking prevalence (female):26.4%
Montenegro
BelgiumLung cancer incidence (overall):38.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):52.2 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):28.1 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:30.5 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):21.6%Smoking prevalence (female):16.4%
Belgium
TurkiyeLung cancer incidence (overall):40 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):74.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):9.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:35.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):41.4%Smoking prevalence (female):16.3%
Turkiye
DenmarkLung cancer incidence (overall):36.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):37.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):36.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:33.1 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):16%Smoking prevalence (female):17.3%
Denmark
PolandLung cancer incidence (overall):36.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):52.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):24.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31%Smoking prevalence (female):18%
Poland
Bosnia-HerzogoveniaLung cancer incidence (overall):37.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):64.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):23.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.1 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):39.1%Smoking prevalence (female):22.6%
Bosnia-Herzogovenia
FranceLung cancer incidence (overall):42.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):59.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):22.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:31.4 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):32.3%Smoking prevalence (female):21.6%
France
SamoaLung cancer incidence (overall):35.4 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):44 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):28 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:7.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.8%Smoking prevalence (female):13.4%
Samoa
ChinaLung cancer incidence (overall):35.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):47.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):22.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:36.2 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):44.8%Smoking prevalence (female):2%
China
United StatesLung cancer incidence (overall):35.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):40.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):30.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:27.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):14.4%Smoking prevalence (female):11.7%
United States
MacedoniaLung cancer incidence (overall):34.1 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):55.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):14.3 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:28 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):36.1%Smoking prevalence (female):20.8%
Macedonia
GermanyLung cancer incidence (overall):33.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):41 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):27.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:25.8 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):25.1%Smoking prevalence (female):17.1%
Germany
IrelandLung cancer incidence (overall):33.7 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):38.8 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):32.9 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:25.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):19.9%Smoking prevalence (female):17.3%
Ireland
NetherlandsLung cancer incidence (overall):33.3 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):34.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):33.5 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:32.6 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):17%Smoking prevalence (female):17%
Netherlands
SloveniaLung cancer incidence (overall):32.9 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):46.4 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):20.8 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:28.7 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):18%Smoking prevalence (female):13%
Slovenia
CroatiaLung cancer incidence (overall):32.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):35.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):23.4 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:30.9 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):31.8%Smoking prevalence (female):23.4%
Croatia
United Kingdom and Northern IrelandLung cancer incidence (overall):32.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (male):35.5 per 100,000Lung cancer incidence (female):29.9 per 100,000Lung cancer mortality rate:26.7 per 100,000Smoking prevalence (male):35.5%Smoking prevalence (female):30.2%
United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
U.S. Lung Cancer Rates Explained
Each year in the U.S., more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. It is the second most common cancer in the U.S. behindskin cancer. Furthermore, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024 the U.S. will see 234,580 new cases of lung cancer.
There are a few key reasons for higher lung cancer rates in the United States. Among them:
On the bright side, the rate of new lung cancer diagnoses in the U.S. has been declining for decades. This is likely has to do with more people quitting smoking (or not starting) than ever before.
Major Causes of Lung Cancer Worldwide
Some lung cancer causes and risk factors are prevalent all around the world, including:
Other factors that may increase your risk of developing lung cancer include living with HIV infection, radiation exposure, and being a smoker who has at least one alcoholic drink every day.
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Cancer Research Fund International.Lung cancer statistics.National Cancer Institute.Lung cancer prevention (PDQ)—patient version.GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators.Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult obesity prevalence maps.American Cancer Society.World Health Organization: Outdoor air pollution causes cancer.World Health Organization.Household air pollution and health.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.World Cancer Research Fund International.Lung cancer statistics.National Cancer Institute.Lung cancer prevention (PDQ)—patient version.GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators.Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult obesity prevalence maps.American Cancer Society.World Health Organization: Outdoor air pollution causes cancer.World Health Organization.Household air pollution and health.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
World Cancer Research Fund International.Lung cancer statistics.National Cancer Institute.Lung cancer prevention (PDQ)—patient version.GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators.Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult obesity prevalence maps.American Cancer Society.World Health Organization: Outdoor air pollution causes cancer.World Health Organization.Household air pollution and health.
World Cancer Research Fund International.Lung cancer statistics.
National Cancer Institute.Lung cancer prevention (PDQ)—patient version.
GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators.Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
American Cancer Society.Lung cancer statistics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lung cancer risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adult obesity prevalence maps.
American Cancer Society.World Health Organization: Outdoor air pollution causes cancer.
World Health Organization.Household air pollution and health.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
