Cancer is one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. According to global estimates, there were nearly 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths in 2022, and these numbers are projected to rise further in the coming years [1]. India, home to more than 1.4 billion people, mirrors these global shifts while also facing unique challenges that distinguish its cancer trends.
India’s Rising Cancer Burden
By 2025, India is expected to report nearly 1.57 million new cancer cases and more than 874,000 deaths, representing a steady increase from 2020 levels [2]. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women, while lung cancer has now overtaken oral cancer as the leading cancer among men in several urban regions [2], [3]. However, rural India continues to carry a heavy burden of oral and cervical cancers. Oral cancer is closely linked to the widespread use of smokeless tobacco and betel quid, while cervical cancer persists due to inadequate screening and limited HPV vaccination coverage [4]. Although the incidence of cervical cancer is gradually declining, it still accounts for significant mortality, particularly in low-resource settings.
Comparing India with Global Cancer Trends
At the global level, the most common cancers are breast, lung, and colorectal [1], [5]. In many high-income countries, organized screening programs and early access to treatment have helped stabilize or even reduce age-standardized incidence and mortality rates. For instance, colorectal and cervical cancers have seen notable declines in several countries due to systematic prevention strategies. India’s picture is different. While its crude incidence rate in 2022 was about 100 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the global average of 197 per 100,000, the mortality-to-incidence ratio is considerably higher [6]. This means that although fewer people are diagnosed with cancer in India compared with global averages, a larger proportion of those diagnosed do not survive. The reasons are well established: late-stage diagnosis, high treatment costs, and uneven distribution of oncology facilities across the country.
India vs. Global Cancer Trends (2022–2025)
| Year | India: New Cases | India: Deaths | Global: New Cases | Global: Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,461,427 | ~850,000 | ~20,000,000 | 9,700,000 |
| 2025 | 1,569,793 | ~874,000 | ~22,000,000 | ~10,400,000 |
Sources: NCRP (2024) [2]; GLOBOCAN (2022) [1].
Why India’s Cancer Trends Differ
The cancer profile of India reflects both global and local influences. Lifestyle-related cancers such as breast, colorectal, and prostate are rising rapidly in cities, driven by sedentary habits, dietary shifts, and obesity [3]. At the same time, cancers strongly associated with infections and cultural practices—such as cervical and oral cancers—remain disproportionately high compared to many Western countries [4]. Environmental exposures add another layer of risk. Indoor biomass fuel use and outdoor air pollution, particularly in major cities, contribute significantly to lung cancer rates in India, a factor less pronounced in high-income nations [6].
What Can Be Done?
Learning from global progress, India has several opportunities to reduce its cancer burden. Scaling up HPV vaccination, strengthening population-level screening for breast, cervical, oral, and colorectal cancers, and expanding oncology services beyond major cities are critical. Public health policies addressing tobacco use, smokeless tobacco in particular, remain central to controlling oral cancers. Global experiences show that prevention and early detection can change the trajectory of cancer outcomes [1], [5]. By adapting these measures to the Indian context, while addressing unique risk factors such as smokeless tobacco and air pollution, the country can improve survival rates and reduce disparities.
Cancer trends in India as of 2025 tells a story of transition. The nation now faces the same rise in lifestyle-related cancers seen globally, while still grappling with traditional cancers linked to infections and tobacco. Compared with global averages, India has lower incidence rates but significantly higher mortality, reflecting systemic challenges in early detection and treatment access. Bridging this gap will require a comprehensive approach that integrates prevention, screening, vaccination, and equitable healthcare delivery.
Sources
[1] H. Sung, J. Ferlay, R. L. Siegel, et al., “Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries,” CA Cancer J Clin, vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 209–249, 2021.
[2] NCRP, National Cancer Registry Programme Report 2024, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 2024.
[3] C. S. Pramesh, R. A. Badwe, N. Bhatla, et al., “Cancer burden and control in India: challenges and opportunities,” Lancet Oncol, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. e11–e19, 2022.
[4] A. Mathur, S. Sathishkumar, L. Chaturvedi, et al., “Cancer statistics, 2020: Report from National Cancer Registry Programme, India,” JCO Glob Oncol, vol. 6, pp. 1063–1075, 2020.
[5] GBD Cancer Collaboration, “Global burden of 29 cancers from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis,” JAMA Oncol, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 618–639, 2022.
[6] A. R. Sharma, V. Kataria, R. R. Gupta, et al., “Projection of cancer burden and need for preventive strategies in India by 2025,” Indian J Cancer, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 23–31, 2023.
