Cancer Death Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts

Cancer Death in America 2025

The landscape of cancer mortality in the United States presents both progress and persistent challenges as we move through 2025. While significant strides have been made in reducing overall cancer death rates over the past three decades, the burden remains substantial with an estimated 618,120 Americans expected to lose their lives to cancer this year. This translates to approximately 1,700 cancer deaths every single day across the nation, underscoring the continued urgency of cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts. The encouraging news lies in the continued decline of cancer mortality rates, which have fallen consistently since 1991, averting nearly 4.5 million deaths through advances in treatment, earlier detection, and significant reductions in smoking rates.

However, beneath these overall improvements lie troubling disparities that threaten future progress. Native American populations face cancer mortality rates that are two to three times higher than White Americans for kidney, liver, stomach, and cervical cancers. Black Americans continue to experience disproportionately elevated cancer death rates despite having lower or comparable incidence rates for many cancer types. Meanwhile, cancer incidence among women under 50 and middle-aged adults is rising at alarming rates, particularly for cancers associated with obesity and other modifiable risk factors. These statistics paint a complex picture of a nation making headway against cancer while simultaneously confronting new and persistent challenges that demand targeted interventions and equitable access to care.

Key Cancer Death Statistics in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Statistics 2025, National Cancer Institute SEER Program, CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System

The numbers reveal a nation at a critical juncture in its fight against cancer. With 618,120 projected deaths in 2025, cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, accounting for nearly one in five deaths nationwide. The overall mortality rate has declined by an impressive 34% since 1991, representing one of public health’s most significant achievements. This progress stems primarily from dramatic reductions in smoking rates, which dropped from 42% in 1965 to just 12% in 2022, along with advances in early detection technologies and more effective treatment protocols. However, the absolute number of cancer cases continues to rise due to population growth and the aging of America, with over 2 million new diagnoses expected this year.

Lung cancer continues its devastating reign as the leading cause of cancer death, claiming 124,730 lives in 2025—nearly 2.5 times more deaths than colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined. Remarkably, approximately 85% of these lung cancer deaths (106,150) are directly caused by cigarette smoking, with an additional 3,500 deaths attributed to secondhand smoke exposure. The mortality rate for lung cancer has dropped by 61% from its peak in 1990 among men and by 38% from its peak in 2002 among women, reflecting both the later downturn in smoking among women and the continued impact of tobacco cessation efforts. Despite these improvements, only 18.7% of eligible adults receive lung cancer screening, representing a critical missed opportunity that could prevent an estimated 62,110 additional deaths over five years if screening reached full uptake.

Cancer Death Rates by Age Group in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, SEER Program National Cancer Institute, CDC National Center for Health Statistics 2022-2025

The distribution of cancer deaths across age groups reveals striking patterns that inform prevention and treatment priorities. The 65-74 age group bears the heaviest burden, accounting for approximately 32-35% of all cancer deaths in the United States. This concentration reflects the cumulative lifetime exposure to carcinogens, the biological aging process, and the latency period between cancer initiation and clinical manifestation. Cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65-74 years, making this demographic the focal point for screening initiatives and treatment resource allocation. Death rates for cancer are significantly higher among middle-aged and elderly populations, with the rate increasing exponentially after age 50.

Among younger Americans, concerning trends have emerged. Women under age 50 now have an 82% higher cancer incidence rate than their male counterparts, a dramatic increase from the 51% difference observed in 2002. This disparity extends to the 50-64 age bracket, where women have now overtaken men in cancer diagnoses with rates of 832.5 per 100,000 versus 830.6 per 100,000—reversing historical patterns. These shifts are particularly evident in thyroid, breast, and colorectal cancers, which increasingly affect younger women. Furthermore, lung cancer incidence rates in women under 65 have now surpassed those in men, representing a complete reversal of long-standing trends. This shift likely reflects patterns in smoking initiation, potential differences in susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens, and possibly underrecognized environmental or occupational exposures affecting women more acutely. Among children aged 0-14 years, an estimated 14,690 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, with approximately 1,650 deaths expected, making cancer the leading disease-related cause of death in this age group despite representing less than 1% of total cancer mortality.

Leading Causes of Cancer Death in the US 2025

Data Source: National Cancer Institute SEER Cancer Stat Facts 2025, American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, CDC Mortality Data 2022-2025

The hierarchy of cancer mortality in 2025 underscores the disproportionate impact of specific cancer types. Lung and bronchus cancer maintains its devastating position as the nation’s leading cancer killer, responsible for more than one in five cancer deaths. These 124,730 deaths represent nearly three times the mortality from colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death. Despite decades of decline in smoking rates, lung cancer continues to dwarf other cancers in absolute death numbers, causing more deaths than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers combined. The lung cancer death rate has dropped by 61% from the peak in 1990 among men and by 38% from the peak in 2002 among women, with these declines accelerating since 2013-2014 due to treatment advances and earlier detection through low-dose CT screening.

Colorectal cancer claims 52,900 lives annually, representing 8.6% of all cancer deaths. The mortality rate has been declining thanks to increased screening, particularly colonoscopy, which allows for the detection and removal of precancerous polyps. However, alarming increases in colorectal cancer incidence among adults under 50 threaten to reverse this progress. Pancreatic cancer ranks third with 51,980 deaths, and its mortality rates have been gradually increasing from about 5 per 100,000 in both men and women in the 1930s to 13 per 100,000 men and 10 per 100,000 women today. Pancreatic cancer’s exceptionally poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of just 13%, reflects late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment options. Among women, breast cancer causes 43,700 deaths despite having a relatively favorable five-year survival rate of 92% overall, demonstrating both the high incidence of the disease and the critical importance of stage at diagnosis. Prostate cancer accounts for 35,250 male deaths, with Black men experiencing more than double the death rate of White men—a disparity that persists despite overall improvements in detection and treatment.

Cancer Death Rates by Race and Ethnicity in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Statistics for African American/Black People 2025, National Cancer Institute SEER Program 2017-2021, CDC Health Disparities Report 2025

Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer mortality represent one of the most persistent and troubling features of the American cancer landscape. Black Americans face the highest cancer mortality burden of any racial group for most major cancer types, with death rates 16% higher than White men and 10% higher than White women during the most recent five-year period, despite having only 4% higher incidence in men and 9% lower incidence in women. This paradox—higher mortality despite similar or lower incidence—reflects profound inequalities in access to care, treatment quality, stage at diagnosis, and underlying comorbidities rooted in social determinants of health and structural racism. From 1991 to 2022, cancer mortality declined by 49% in Black men and 33% in Black women, representing substantial progress, yet Black men continue to have double the death rate from prostate cancer, myeloma, and stomach cancer compared to White men.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations experience the highest overall cancer mortality burden, with rates that are two to three times higher than White Americans for kidney, liver, stomach, and cervical cancers. These staggering disparities reflect geographic isolation, limited healthcare infrastructure in tribal areas, lower screening rates, and higher prevalence of risk factors including smoking, obesity, and hepatitis infections. The AI/AN population has the highest mortality rates for liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer, followed by Hispanic/Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander populations, likely reflecting higher rates of chronic hepatitis B and C infections in these communities. Black women face particularly concerning disparities in endometrial cancer, with incidence rates increasing by 2% per year and mortality rates that dramatically exceed those of White women despite lower screening and detection rates.

Among the 248,470 new cancer cases expected in Black Americans in 2025, the leading causes of death differ by sex. Among Black men, lung cancer accounts for 20% of cancer deaths, prostate cancer for 17%, and colorectal cancer for 11%. Among Black women, breast cancer and lung cancer each cause 17% of cancer deaths—nearly twice as many deaths as third-ranking colorectal cancer at 9%. The five-year relative survival rate for almost every type of cancer is lower for Black people compared to White people from 2014-2020, ranging from 61.7% to 68.4% for racial and ethnic minority groups compared to 70.8% for non-Hispanic White individuals. Black individuals represent only 4% of oncology clinical trial participants for five major cancer types despite accounting for 14% of the US population, limiting knowledge about racial variation in treatment efficacy and perpetuating disparities.

Cancer Death Rates by Gender in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Statistics 2025, National Cancer Institute SEER Program, CDC National Vital Statistics System 2022-2025

Gender disparities in cancer mortality reveal complex patterns shaped by biological, behavioral, and environmental factors. Men face significantly higher overall cancer death rates than women, with age-adjusted mortality rates of 178-185 per 100,000 compared to 125-132 per 100,000 for women. This 30-40% higher mortality burden in men reflects both higher incidence rates for many cancer types and historically higher exposure to carcinogens, particularly tobacco and occupational hazards. Among the estimated 321,000 male cancer deaths in 2025, lung cancer accounts for 20%, followed by prostate cancer at 11% and colorectal cancer at 9%. The male cancer mortality rate has been declining at 1.7% per year from 2018-2022, outpacing the 1.3% annual decline observed in women.

However, recent trends show a narrowing of the gender gap in cancer incidence, particularly among younger adults. Women aged 50-64 now have cancer incidence rates that exceed those of men (832.5 vs. 830.6 per 100,000), representing a historic reversal. Among adults under 50, women have an 82% higher cancer incidence rate than men (141.1 vs. 77.4 per 100,000), a dramatic increase from the 51% difference in 2002. Most strikingly, lung cancer incidence rates in women under 65 have now surpassed those in men for the first time, reversing long-standing patterns. This shift reflects complex factors including patterns in smoking initiation across birth cohorts, potential differences in susceptibility to tobacco carcinogens, and increasing recognition of lung cancer in never-smokers, which occurs more frequently in women.

Among the estimated 297,120 female cancer deaths in 2025, lung cancer is the leading cause at 21%, having surpassed breast cancer as the primary cancer killer of women in 1987. Breast cancer accounts for 15% of female cancer deaths despite being the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, reflecting both high incidence and relatively favorable survival rates when detected early. However, breast cancer mortality rates among Black women are 38% higher than White women despite a 5% lower incidence rate, highlighting persistent racial disparities in outcomes. Concerning trends include rising death rates for cancers of the oral cavity, pancreas, uterine corpus, and liver among women, partially offsetting gains in other cancer types. The increase in uterine corpus cancer mortality is particularly alarming, with incidence rates increasing by 2% per year among Black women and widening racial disparities.

Cancer Death Rates by State in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics State Cancer Profiles 2018-2022, American Cancer Society State-Level Cancer Data 2025, National Vital Statistics System

Geographic disparities in cancer mortality across the United States reflect complex interplay of socioeconomic factors, healthcare access, behavioral risk factors, and population demographics. States in the South and Appalachian regions consistently show the highest cancer death rates, with Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas leading the nation with age-adjusted mortality rates ranging from 175-195 per 100,000. These elevated rates correlate strongly with high smoking prevalence, elevated obesity rates, lower screening participation, rural healthcare access barriers, and socioeconomic disadvantages including poverty and lower educational attainment. Kentucky has historically maintained the highest cancer mortality rate in the nation, driven primarily by extraordinarily high rates of lung cancer related to tobacco use and coal mining exposures.

In contrast, Western states including Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Arizona demonstrate the lowest cancer death rates, with age-adjusted mortality rates below 125 per 100,000. Utah consistently ranks as having the lowest cancer mortality in the nation, attributed to very low smoking rates (the lowest in the nation at approximately 8-9%), younger population demographics, and lifestyle factors influenced by the predominant religious culture. Colorado’s low rates similarly reflect low smoking prevalence, high physical activity levels possibly influenced by altitude and outdoor recreation culture, and better socioeconomic indicators. Hawaii benefits from a diverse population with dietary patterns associated with lower cancer risk and relatively low smoking rates.

The incidence rates of colorectal, lung, and cervical cancers are substantially higher in people who live in rural Appalachia than in those who live in urban areas within the region, highlighting the combined impact of healthcare access, screening availability, and concentrated risk factors. State-level variations extend to specific cancer types, with liver cancer mortality highest in states with large Hispanic/Latino and Asian populations reflecting hepatitis B and C prevalence patterns. Cervical cancer mortality remains elevated in Southern states where HPV vaccination rates lag and access to screening is limited. These geographic disparities underscore the critical importance of state-level interventions, healthcare infrastructure investment, and targeted public health programs addressing region-specific risk factors.

Smoking-Related Cancer Deaths in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Statistics 2025, CDC Smoking and Health Report 2025, National Cancer Institute Tobacco Control Research

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of cancer death in the United States, accounting for approximately 500 cancer deaths every single day in 2025. Despite remarkable progress in reducing smoking prevalence from 42% in 1965 to just 12% in 2022, the legacy of past tobacco use continues to exact a devastating toll. Among the 124,730 lung cancer deaths projected for 2025, an estimated 85% (106,150 deaths) are directly attributable to cigarette smoking, with an additional 3,500 deaths caused by secondhand smoke exposure and 15,100 deaths resulting from a combination of other combustible tobacco products such as cigar or pipe smoking, radon exposure, occupational exposures, air pollution, and other environmental carcinogens.

The decline in smoking rates has produced profound public health benefits, with the lung cancer death rate dropping by 61% from its peak in 1990 among men and by 38% from the peak in 2002 among women. These declines reflect the later and slower uptake of smoking among women compared to men, as well as differences in cessation patterns across birth cohorts. Steeper smoking declines among Black people than White people, particularly among youth in the 1970s and 1980s, have resulted in converging lung cancer incidence overall and elimination of racial disparities among individuals younger than 50 years. However, concerning trends persist—smoking rates remain highest among those with annual household incomes less than $35,000 (20%) compared to the overall adult smoking rate of 12.5%, and tobacco companies continue targeted marketing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Beyond lung cancer, smoking significantly contributes to mortality from at least 12 different cancer types. Laryngeal cancer shows 75-80% of deaths attributable to smoking, with rates declining steadily as smoking prevalence has fallen. Esophageal cancer sees approximately 50-60% of deaths linked to tobacco use, though the relationship is complex and varies by histological type. Bladder cancer mortality shows about 50% attributable to smoking, with men experiencing higher rates due to historically higher smoking prevalence and occupational exposures. The oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality picture is complicated by the increasing contribution of HPV-related cancers, which show better prognosis than smoking-related cancers but contribute to stable or slightly increasing incidence despite smoking reductions. Even pancreatic cancer, with its multifactorial etiology, sees 20-30% of deaths attributable to smoking. The potential for additional mortality reductions through continued smoking prevention and cessation efforts remains substantial, though growing concern exists about e-cigarettes and vaping as potential future contributors given their carcinogenic potential and widespread popularity among youth.

Obesity-Related Cancer Deaths in the US 2025

Data Source: American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study, CDC Obesity and Cancer Report 2025, National Cancer Institute SEER Program Analysis 2017-2021

Excess body weight has emerged as a critical and growing contributor to cancer mortality in the United States, second only to tobacco use as a preventable cancer risk factor. Current data indicates that approximately 11% of all cancers in women and 5% of cancers in men are attributable to excess body weight, translating to tens of thousands of preventable cancer deaths annually. The prevalence of obesity among US adults has increased dramatically from approximately 15% in the 1970s to 42% today, with even higher rates among certain demographic groups. Obesity prevalence is particularly elevated among Black adults, with rates approaching 50% in some studies, contributing to cancer disparities.

Endometrial cancer shows the strongest association with obesity, with overweight and obese women facing 2-4 times the risk of non-obese women. The rising incidence of endometrial cancer, particularly among Black women with increases of 2% per year, directly parallels obesity trends. Mortality from endometrial cancer has been increasing, particularly among Black women who face dramatically higher death rates than White women despite lower incidence—a disparity partially explained by later-stage diagnosis, more aggressive tumor biology, and higher obesity rates. Esophageal adenocarcinoma, which has largely replaced squamous cell carcinoma as the predominant histological type in the United States, shows strong association with obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with excess body weight contributing to approximately 50% of cases.

Kidney cancer incidence has been steadily increasing, particularly among women, with obesity representing a major modifiable risk factor contributing to approximately 40% of cases. Liver cancer mortality has been rising among women, driven in part by increasing rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) related to obesity and metabolic syndrome. The alarming increase in colorectal cancer incidence among adults under 50 has been partially attributed to rising obesity rates, sedentary lifestyle, and dietary factors associated with excess body weight, though the exact mechanisms remain under investigation. Postmenopausal breast cancer risk increases with obesity due to elevated estrogen levels produced by adipose tissue, contributing to the persistently high breast cancer incidence despite improvements in mortality.

The public health implications are profound—addressing obesity through prevention and intervention could potentially prevent 60,000-80,000 cancer deaths annually. However, trends continue moving in the wrong direction, with childhood obesity rates also increasing, suggesting future cancer burden may worsen without aggressive intervention. Adult obesity prevalence has shown steady increases across all racial and ethnic groups from 1976 to 2020, with particularly steep rises since the 1990s. This obesity epidemic threatens to undermine progress achieved through smoking reductions and could potentially reverse overall cancer mortality declines if left unaddressed through comprehensive prevention strategies, environmental and policy changes, and clinical interventions.

Cancer Survival Improvements in the US 2025

Data Source: National Cancer Institute SEER Program 2014-2020, American Cancer Society Survival Trends Analysis 2025, Cancer Registry Data 1975-2020

Remarkable progress in cancer survival represents one of the most encouraging aspects of the current cancer landscape. The overall five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has increased from 58% in 1995-1997 to 69% in 2014-2020, meaning that more than two-thirds of people diagnosed with cancer today will survive at least five years. These improvements reflect advances in early detection, more effective treatments including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, better supportive care, and improved surgical and radiation techniques. In 2022, an estimated 18 million people were living with a history of cancer in the United States, and this number continues to grow as survival improves and the population ages. Nearly 80% of cancer survivors are age 60 or older.

Lung cancer has shown particularly dramatic improvements, with five-year survival increasing from 15% in 1995-1997 to 27% in 2014-2020, representing an 80% relative improvement. For localized-stage lung cancer, survival has improved from 49% to 64%, demonstrating the profound impact of earlier detection through low-dose CT screening, which became available in 2013, and advances in surgical techniques and systemic therapies. The accelerated decline in lung cancer mortality since 2013-2014, with rates dropping 3-5% per year, reflects both these earlier detection efforts and the revolutionary impact of immunotherapy drugs, which have transformed treatment for advanced lung cancer with some patients achieving durable long-term remissions.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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