Chang-Hoon Kim (Busan Cancer Registry, Pusan National University Hospital), Cheol-In Yoo (Ulsan Caner Registry, Ulsan University Hospital), Yong-Dae Kim (Chungbuk Cancer Registry, Chungbuk National University Hospital), Young-Taek Kim (Daejeon/Chungnam Cancer Registry, Chungnam National University and Hospital), Chul Min Park (Jeju Cancer Registry, Jeju National University and Hospital), Jung-Ho Youm (Chonbuk Cancer Registry, Jeonbuk National University Hospital), Kyuhyoung Lim (Kangwon Cancer Registry, Kangwon National University Hospital), Nam-Soo Hong (Daegu/Gyeongbuk Cancer Registry, Kyungpook National University Medical Center), Sun-Seog Kweon (Gwangju/Jeonnam Cancer Registry, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital), Woo-Chul Kim (Incheon Cancer Registry, Inha University Hospital), Ki-Soo Park (Gyeongnam Cancer Registry, Gyeongsang National University and Hospital).
The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2018.
Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2018, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2019. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. Crude and age-standardized rates (ASRs) for incidence, mortality, prevalence, and 5-year relative survival rates were calculated, and temporal trends for incidence and mortality rates were evaluated, with annual percentage changes.
In 2018, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 243,837 (ASR, 270.4 per 100,000) and 79,153 (ASR, 73.3 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.4% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.7% from 2007 to 2014; 3.7% from 2014 to 2018). The 5-year relative survival between 2014 and 2018 was 70.3%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2 million by the end of 2018.
Cancer statistics have improved significantly during the past two decades. However, there remain important challenges to be solved, such as controlling cancers with low survival rates. Cancer statistics can be used to discover blind spots in cancer control, and as evidence for developing and implementing future cancer control strategies.
It is estimated that cancer affects one in five men or women, and causes one in six deaths worldwide, according to the recent reports on global cancer statistics [
Annual cancer statistics in Korea are calculated using a national and population-based database of cancer occurrence, the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (KNCI DB). Every year, the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) collects information on patients diagnosed with cancer, in any hospital across the country during the past year, and backs up the data from the year before the last, with data compiled by central and 11 regional cancer registries that also include information regarding missing cancer patients. Hence, it takes two years to complete and calculate the year’s KNCI DB and cancer statistics. The KCCR has reported such nationwide statistics from 1999 onward; other detailed information on the KCCR and KNCI DB is provided elsewhere [
Annual mid-year population data and recently updated mortality data including causes of death from 1983 were obtained from Statistics Korea [
All cancer cases had been registered in accordance with the
For the convenience of classification and reporting, the ICD-O-3 codes were converted to the classification of the
We adopted cancer classifications with 24 and 61 types; the former was a modified classification based on the GLOBOCAN cancer dictionary [
Incidence, mortality, and prevalence rates were expressed as crude rates (CRs) or age-standardized rates (ASRs) per 100,000 people. The CR was defined as the total number of newly diagnosed (for incidence) or deceased (for mortality) cases in a year divided by the mid-year population. The ASR was defined as the weighted average of the age-specific rates in which the weights represent the proportions of people in the corresponding age groups in a standard population [
Trends in ASRs were estimated using Joinpoint regression [
The survival rate of cancer patients, diagnosed between 1993 and 2018, was calculated based on the results of follow-up until December 31, 2019. The 5-year relative survival rate was defined as the ratio of observed survival of cancer patients to expected survival in the general population, adjusting the effects of other causes of death using the standard population life table provided by Statistics Korea [
Prevalent cases were defined as the number of cancer patients alive on January 1, 2019 among all the patients diagnosed with cancer between 1999 and 2018. Limited-duration prevalence was calculated using SEER*Stat 8.3.8 software (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. SEER*Stat, Joinpoint 4.8.0 (National Cancer Institute), and SAS ver. 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) were used for statistical analyses.
In 2018, a total of 243,837 people were newly diagnosed with cancer in Korea, of which 52.8% (128,757 cases) were men and 47.2% (115,080 cases) were women (
There were marked differences in major cancers of each age-specific group (
Since the causes-of-death statistics began to be reported in 1983, cancer has been the first cause of death in Korea. In 2018, a total of 79,153 people (61.8% men and 38.2% women) died of cancer, accounting for 26.5% of all deaths occurring in Korea (
Changes in cancer incidence rates from 1999 to 2018 and mortality rates from 1983 to 2018 are depicted in
Since 1999, breast, pancreas, kidney, and hematologic (leukemia and lymphoma) cancers, and that of some male or female reproductive organs (ovary, corpus uteri, prostate, and testis) have been continuously increasing. In both sexes combined, breast (especially for women) and kidney cancers displayed initial rapid increases and then lessened increases after 2007 and 2009, respectively. Prostate cancer demonstrated distinguished increase until 2009, followed by nonsignificant trend until 2015, and regained increasing trend thereafter. The remaining cancers with increasing trend revealed steady increases throughout the entire period. On the other hand, the incidences of colorectal, thyroid, and bladder cancers demonstrated increasing trends that have recently reversed significantly, with decreases starting in 2011, 2011, and 2004, respectively. Finally, in contrast, stomach and liver cancers demonstrated initial moderate decreasing trends until 2011 and 2010, respectively, followed by more rapid decreases thereafter; and cervical cancer showed initial nonsignificant trend until 2001, followed by marked decrease until 2007, however it showed lessened decrease thereafter until now (
Recently, the ASRs for mortality in most cancers have shown decreasing trends in Korea. Stomach cancer revealed continuous decreasing trends throughout the entire observed period for mortality, with more pronounced decreasing slopes in more recent periods. On the other hand, the mortality rates of colorectal, cervical, and thyroid cancers initially increased (significantly, for colorectal and cervical cancers; nonsignificantly, for thyroid cancer) until 2003, and began to decline thereafter (for cervical and thyroid cancers) or after a nonsignificant period of 10 years from 2003 had passed (i.e., from 2012, for colorectal cancer). Liver and lung cancer mortality rates began to decrease in 2002 and 2001, respectively, after nonsignificant trends until those years, followed by further rapid decreases starting in 2014 (
Over the past two decades, when cancer survival statistics have been compiled, the relative survival rates of cancer patients have increased significantly and steadily. The 5-year relative survival rates for all patients diagnosed with cancer in the recent five years, from 2014 to 2018 were 63.8% in men and 77.1% in women, for a combined overall survival rate of 70.3% (
After thyroid cancer, survival was the highest for testis and prostate cancers in men (95.1% and 94.4%, respectively) and breast cancer in women (93.3%); survival was lowest for cancers of the pancreas (12.6%), and gallbladder plus other and unspecified parts of the biliary tract (28.8%). Stomach cancer (both sexes), prostate cancer (men), lung cancer, and leukemia (women) were associated with outstanding improvements in survival rates over the time period studied. In contrast, advances have been slow for cancers of the brain and CNS, pancreas (both sexes), and bladder (women).
In terms of stage distribution at diagnosis and recent survival rates according to the SEER summary stage in each cancer,
The total prevalent cancer cases in 2018 (identified as survivor at the time of January 1, 2019) were 2,005,520, surpassing 2 million for the first time in Korea (
The number of prevalent cases for common cancers, according to the time since cancer diagnosis, are described in
A summary of carcinoma
During the past two decades, regardless of the increases in cancer incidence due to changes in biologic, behavioral, and environmental risk factors, overall cancer statistics have improved significantly as a result of national cancer control plans that have been carried out throughout the years. Incidence and mortality rates for major cancers in Korea, i.e., stomach, colorectal, liver, breast, uterine cervix, and lung, have been exhibiting decreasing trends currently, except for increasing incidences in women for breast and lung cancers. The 5-year relative survival rates have continuously improved, reaching over 70% for all patients diagnosed with cancer in recent years. Cancer prevalence in Korea has rapidly increased due to such remarkable improvements in cancer survival, reaching over 2 million by the end of 2018. Despite those advances, there remain important challenges to be solved, such as the stagnant decreasing trend of cancer incidence rates in recent years, and treatment of cancers with low survival rates, including rare cancers. Cancer statistics can be used to discover blind spots in cancer control, and as evidence for comprehensive and precise cancer control strategies that need to be continuously developed and implemented.
Supplementary materials are available at Cancer Research and Treatment website (
Conceived and designed the analysis: Won YJ.
Collected the data: Won YJ, Regional Cancer Registry Committee.
Contributed data or analysis tools: Hong S, Won YJ, Jung KW, Kong HJ.
Performed the analysis: Lee JJ.
Wrote the paper: Hong S, Won YJ.
Interpretation and review: Jung KW, Kong HJ.
Review and comment: Im JS, Seo HG.
Conflict of interest relevant to this article was not reported.
Special thanks to the tumor registrars (health information managers) of the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR)-affiliated and non-KCCR-affiliated hospitals for data collection, abstracting, and coding. Additionally, we acknowledge the cooperation of the National Health Insurance Service and Statistics Korea for data support. This work was supported by the Health Promotion Fund of the Ministry of Health & Welfare (No. 2060570) and a research grant (No. 1910130) from the National Cancer Center, Republic of Korea.
The five common sites of cancer incidence by age group and sex in Korea, 2018. (A) Men. (B) Women. Numbers in the graph are age-specific incidence rates per 100,000. CNS, central nervous system.
Age-specific incidence rates of common cancers for 2018 in Korea. (A) Men. (B) Women.
Annual age-standardized cancer incidence and mortality rates by sex for all sites from 1983 to 2018 in Korea. Age standardization was based on Segi’s world standard population.
Trends in age-standardized incidences of selected cancers by sex from 1999 to 2018 in Korea. (A) Men. (B) Women. Age standardization was based on Segi’s world standard population.
Trends in age-standardized mortalities of selected cancers by sex from 1983 to 2018 in Korea. (A) Men. (B) Women. Age standardization was based on Segi’s world standard population. a)Cancers of cervix uteri, corpus uteri, and unspecified parts of the uterus were combined (C53–C55), due to their unclear classifications in the past.
Five-year relative survival rates by stage at diagnosis and stage distribution of selected cancers by sex in Korea, 2014–2018. (A) Men. (B) Women. Staging according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage categories. For each cancer type, stage categories do not total 100% because sufficient information was not available to stage all cases. a)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.
Prevalent cases of common cancers by time since cancer diagnosis. Prevalent cases were defined as the number of cancer patients alive on January 1, 2019 among all cancer patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2018.
Cancer incidence, mortality, and prevalence by sex in Korea, 2018
Site/Type | New cases | Deaths | Prevalent cases | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| |||||||
Both sexes | Men | Women | Both sexes | Men | Women | Both sexes | Men | Women | |
All sites | 243,837 | 128,757 | 115,080 | 79,153 | 48,898 | 30,255 | 2,005,520 | 881,057 | 1,124,463 |
| |||||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 3,806 | 2,740 | 1,066 | 1,137 | 841 | 296 | 27,533 | 18,422 | 9,111 |
| |||||||||
Esophagus | 2,698 | 2,449 | 249 | 1,435 | 1,314 | 121 | 11,238 | 10,055 | 1,183 |
| |||||||||
Stomach | 29,279 | 19,865 | 9,414 | 7,746 | 5,083 | 2,663 | 304,265 | 201,278 | 102,987 |
| |||||||||
Colon and rectum | 27,909 | 16,686 | 11,223 | 8,715 | 4,900 | 3,815 | 265,291 | 157,777 | 107,514 |
| |||||||||
Liver |
15,736 | 11,728 | 4,008 | 10,611 | 7,790 | 2,821 | 71,774 | 53,903 | 17,871 |
| |||||||||
Gallbladder |
7,179 | 3,840 | 3,339 | 4,871 | 2,504 | 2,367 | 24,013 | 12,408 | 11,605 |
| |||||||||
Pancreas | 7,611 | 4,020 | 3,591 | 6,036 | 3,193 | 2,843 | 13,321 | 6,926 | 6,395 |
| |||||||||
Larynx | 1,143 | 1,081 | 62 | 295 | 271 | 24 | 11,461 | 10,787 | 674 |
| |||||||||
Lung |
28,628 | 19,524 | 9,104 | 17,852 | 13,188 | 4,664 | 93,600 | 56,954 | 36,646 |
| |||||||||
Breast | 23,647 | 100 | 23,547 | 2,473 | 13 | 2,460 | 237,771 | 867 | 236,904 |
| |||||||||
Cervix uteri | 3,500 | - | 3,500 | 845 | - | 845 | 57,104 | - | 57,104 |
| |||||||||
Corpus uteri | 3,182 | - | 3,182 | 327 | - | 327 | 28,249 | - | 28,249 |
| |||||||||
Ovary | 2,898 | - | 2,898 | 1,243 | - | 1,243 | 22,641 | - | 22,641 |
| |||||||||
Prostate | 14,857 | 14,857 | - | 1,995 | 1,995 | - | 96,852 | 96,852 | - |
| |||||||||
Testis | 335 | 335 | - | 17 | 17 | - | 3,747 | 3,747 | - |
| |||||||||
Kidney | 5,456 | 3,806 | 1,650 | 989 | 672 | 317 | 46,358 | 31,302 | 15,056 |
| |||||||||
Bladder | 4,577 | 3,650 | 927 | 1,400 | 1,055 | 345 | 37,722 | 30,734 | 6,988 |
| |||||||||
Brain and CNS | 2,024 | 1,088 | 936 | 1,355 | 727 | 628 | 12,356 | 6,332 | 6,024 |
| |||||||||
Thyroid | 28,651 | 6,727 | 21,924 | 372 | 109 | 263 | 432,932 | 77,440 | 355,492 |
| |||||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 299 | 181 | 118 | 62 | 39 | 23 | 3,215 | 1,988 | 1,227 |
| |||||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 5,216 | 3,001 | 2,215 | 1,876 | 1,075 | 801 | 35,224 | 19,993 | 15,231 |
| |||||||||
Multiple myeloma | 1,719 | 927 | 792 | 953 | 508 | 445 | 7,008 | 3,677 | 3,331 |
| |||||||||
Leukemia | 3,494 | 2,037 | 1,457 | 1,848 | 1,081 | 767 | 23,782 | 13,250 | 10,532 |
| |||||||||
Other and ill-defined | 19,993 | 10,115 | 9,878 | 4,700 | 2,523 | 2,177 | 138,063 | 66,365 | 71,698 |
CNS, central nervous system.
Limited-duration prevalent cases on January 1, 2018. These are patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2018, and who were alive on January 1, 2019. Multiple primary cancer cases were counted multiple times,
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.
Crude and age-standardized cancer incidence rates by sex in Korea, 2018
Site/Type | Crude incidence rates per 100,000 | Age-standardized incidence rates per 100,000 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
Both sexes | Men | Women | Both sexes | Men | Women | |
All sites | 475.3 | 502.9 | 447.8 | 270.4 | 295.2 | 259.4 |
| ||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 7.4 | 10.7 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 2.4 |
| ||||||
Esophagus | 5.3 | 9.6 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 5.4 | 0.5 |
| ||||||
Stomach | 57.1 | 77.6 | 36.6 | 30.4 | 44.3 | 18.3 |
| ||||||
Colon and rectum | 54.4 | 65.2 | 43.7 | 28.4 | 37.4 | 20.6 |
| ||||||
Liver |
30.7 | 45.8 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 26.3 | 7.2 |
| ||||||
Gallbladder |
14.0 | 15.0 | 13.0 | 6.6 | 8.2 | 5.2 |
| ||||||
Pancreas | 14.8 | 15.7 | 14.0 | 7.4 | 8.8 | 6.3 |
| ||||||
Larynx | 2.2 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 |
| ||||||
Lung |
55.8 | 76.3 | 35.4 | 27.6 | 41.9 | 16.4 |
| ||||||
Breast | 46.1 | 0.4 | 91.6 | 29.1 | 0.2 | 57.9 |
| ||||||
Cervix uteri | 6.8 | - | 13.6 | 4.4 | - | 8.8 |
| ||||||
Corpus uteri | 6.2 | - | 12.4 | 3.9 | - | 7.7 |
| ||||||
Ovary | 5.6 | - | 11.3 | 3.6 | - | 7.1 |
| ||||||
Prostate | 29.0 | 58.0 | - | 14.3 | 31.9 | - |
| ||||||
Testis | 0.7 | 1.3 | - | 0.7 | 1.3 | - |
| ||||||
Kidney | 10.6 | 14.9 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 9.2 | 3.6 |
| ||||||
Bladder | 8.9 | 14.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 7.9 | 1.5 |
| ||||||
Brain and CNS | 3.9 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| ||||||
Thyroid | 55.8 | 26.3 | 85.3 | 40.2 | 18.8 | 62.2 |
| ||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| ||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 10.2 | 11.7 | 8.6 | 6.5 | 8.0 | 5.0 |
| ||||||
Multiple myeloma | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.4 |
| ||||||
Leukemia | 6.8 | 8.0 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 4.4 |
| ||||||
Other and ill-defined | 39.0 | 39.5 | 38.4 | 21.9 | 24.5 | 19.7 |
CNS, central nervous system.
Age-adjusted using Segi’s world standard population,
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.
The top 10 leading causes of death in Korea, 2018
Rank | Cause of death | No. of deaths | Percentage of all deaths | Age-standardized death rate per 100,000 |
---|---|---|---|---|
All causes | 298,777 | 100.0 | 268.3 | |
1 | Cancer | 79,153 | 26.5 | 73.3 |
2 | Heart disease | 32,004 | 10.7 | 26.5 |
3 | Cerebrovascular disease | 22,940 | 7.7 | 18.7 |
4 | Pneumonia | 23,280 | 7.8 | 17.5 |
5 | Intentional self-harm (suicide) | 13,670 | 4.6 | 18.2 |
6 | Diabetes mellitus | 8,789 | 2.9 | 7.3 |
7 | Disease of liver | 6,858 | 2.3 | 7.4 |
8 | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 6,608 | 2.2 | 5.0 |
9 | Hypertensive diseases | 6,065 | 2.0 | 4.5 |
10 | Transport accidents | 4,671 | 1.6 | 5.7 |
Others | 94,782 | 31.7 | 84.3 |
Source: Mortality data, 2018, Statistics Korea [
Age-adjusted using Segi’s world standard population.
Crude and age-standardized cancer mortality rates by sex in Korea, 2018
Site/Type | Crude mortality rates per 100,000 | Age-standardized mortality rates per 100,000 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
Both sexes | Men | Women | Both sexes | Men | Women | |
All sites | 154.3 | 191.0 | 117.7 | 73.3 | 105.3 | 49.5 |
| ||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| ||||||
Esophagus | 2.8 | 5.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.2 |
| ||||||
Stomach | 15.1 | 19.9 | 10.4 | 7.1 | 11.0 | 4.1 |
| ||||||
Colon and rectum | 17.0 | 19.1 | 14.8 | 7.7 | 10.6 | 5.5 |
| ||||||
Liver |
20.7 | 30.4 | 11.0 | 10.2 | 17.0 | 4.4 |
| ||||||
Gallbladder |
9.5 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 4.2 | 5.2 | 3.4 |
| ||||||
Pancreas | 11.8 | 12.5 | 11.1 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 4.3 |
| ||||||
Larynx | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| ||||||
Lung |
34.8 | 51.5 | 18.1 | 15.7 | 27.5 | 7.0 |
| ||||||
Breast | 4.8 | 0.1 | 9.6 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 5.3 |
| ||||||
Cervix uteri | 1.6 | - | 3.3 | 0.9 | - | 1.7 |
| ||||||
Corpus uteri | 0.6 | - | 1.3 | 0.3 | - | 0.6 |
| ||||||
Ovary | 2.4 | - | 4.8 | 1.3 | - | 2.4 |
| ||||||
Prostate | 3.9 | 7.8 | - | 1.5 | 4.2 | - |
| ||||||
Testis | 0.0 | 0.1 | - | 0.0 | 0.1 | - |
| ||||||
Kidney | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| ||||||
Bladder | 2.7 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.4 |
| ||||||
Brain and CNS | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
| ||||||
Thyroid | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| ||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| ||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.3 |
| ||||||
Multiple myeloma | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| ||||||
Leukemia | 3.6 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| ||||||
Other and ill-defined | 9.2 | 9.9 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 3.6 |
CNS, central nervous system.
Age-adjusted using Segi’s world standard population,
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.
Trends in cancer incidence and mortality rates from 1999 to 2018 in Korea, both sexes
Site/Type | Incidence | Mortality | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||
1999 | 2018 | Trend 1 | Trend 2 | Trend 3 | 1999 | 2018 | Trend 1 | Trend 2 | Trend 3 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Years | APC | Years | APC | Years | APC | Years | APC | Years | APC | Years | APC | |||||
All sites | 212.0 | 270.4 | 1999–2012 | 3.3 |
2012–2015 | −5.4 |
2015–2018 | 1.0 | 114.3 | 73.3 | 1999–2002 | 1.0 | 2002–2014 | −2.7 |
2014–2018 | −3.7 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 3.6 | 4.3 | 1999–2018 | 0.7 |
- | - | - | - | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1999–2018 | −1.9 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Esophagus | 4.1 | 2.7 | 1999–2018 | −2.2 |
- | - | - | - | 3.1 | 1.3 | 1999–2018 | −4.4 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Stomach | 43.6 | 30.4 | 1999–2011 | −0.2 | 2011–2018 | −4.6 |
- | - | 23.8 | 7.1 | 1999–2002 | −2.6 |
2002–2010 | −6.2 |
2010–2018 | −7.4 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Colon and rectum | 20.6 | 28.4 | 1999–2006 | 7.2 |
2006–2011 | 3.1 |
2011–2018 | −4.4 |
7.7 | 7.7 | 1999–2003 | 6.4 |
2003–2012 | −0.4 | 2012–2018 | −3.8 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Liver |
27.9 | 16.2 | 1999–2010 | −1.7 |
2010–2018 | −4.3 |
- | - | 20.4 | 10.2 | 1999–2002 | 0.7 | 2002–2014 | −3.6 |
2014–2018 | −6.4 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Gallbladder |
6.5 | 6.6 | 1999–2004 | 1.4 | 2004–2018 | −0.3 |
- | - | 5.2 | 4.2 | 1999–2001 | 7.6 | 2001–2014 | −2.8 |
2014–2018 | 0.5 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Pancreas | 5.6 | 7.4 | 1999–2018 | 1.5 |
- | - | - | - | 5.4 | 5.5 | 1999–2018 | 0.2 | - | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Larynx | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1999–2018 | −3.6 |
- | - | - | - | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1999–2005 | −8.0 |
2005–2008 | −15.4 |
2008–2018 | −7.1 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Lung |
28.5 | 27.6 | 1999–2011 | 0.1 | 2011–2015 | −1.4 |
2015–2018 | 0.7 | 22.4 | 15.7 | 1999–2001 | 3.7 | 2001–2014 | −1.9 |
2014–2018 | −4.3 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Breast | 11.0 | 29.1 | 1999–2007 | 6.4 |
2007–2018 | 4.4 |
- | - | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1999–2016 | 1.4 |
2016–2018 | −2.7 | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Cervix uteri | 8.6 | 4.4 | 1999–2001 | −1.0 | 2001–2007 | −5.4 |
2007–2018 | −2.8 |
1.4 | 0.9 | 1999–2003 | 10.0 |
2003–2008 | −7.0 |
2008–2018 | −4.2 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Corpus uteri | 1.4 | 3.9 | 1999–2018 | 5.1 |
- | - | - | - | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1999–2003 | 35.9 |
2003–2018 | 2.4 |
- | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Ovary | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1999–2018 | 1.7 |
- | - | - | - | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1999–2018 | 0.7 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Prostate | 3.1 | 14.3 | 1999–2009 | 14.9 |
2009–2015 | 0.6 | 2015–2018 | 6.8 |
0.9 | 1.5 | 1999–2002 | 15.0 |
2002–2011 | 1.7 |
2011–2018 | −1.5 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Testis | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1999–2018 | 4.8 |
- | - | - | - | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1999–2018 | −2.4 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Kidney | 3.0 | 6.3 | 1999–2009 | 6.4 |
2009–2018 | 2.0 |
- | - | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1999–2018 | −0.4 | - | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Bladder | 4.7 | 4.3 | 1999–2004 | 1.9 |
2004–2018 | −1.1 |
- | - | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1999–2001 | 10.5 | 2001–2018 | −1.9 |
- | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Brain and CNS | 2.9 | 3.0 | 1999–2018 | 0.2 | - | - | - | - | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1999–2002 | 6.3 |
2002–2008 | −3.5 |
2008–2018 | −0.9 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Thyroid | 6.5 | 40.2 | 1999–2011 | 21.7 |
2011–2018 | −9.3 |
- | - | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1999–2003 | 7.5 |
2003–2018 | −4.5 |
- | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1999–2018 | 3.6 |
- | - | - | - | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1999–2004 | 23.0 |
2004–2018 | −1.7 | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 4.3 | 6.5 | 1999–2018 | 2.3 |
- | - | - | - | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1999–2018 | −1.0 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Multiple myeloma | 1.0 | 1.7 | 1999–2012 | 3.7 |
2012–2018 | 1.0 | - | - | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1999–2003 | 12.6 |
2003–2016 | 1.0 | 2016–2018 | −7.6 |
| ||||||||||||||||
Leukemia | 4.7 | 5.3 | 1999–2018 | 0.9 |
- | - | - | - | 2.9 | 2.1 | 1999–2018 | −1.8 |
- | - | - | - |
| ||||||||||||||||
Other and ill-defined | 15.0 | 21.9 | 1999–2001 | −0.9 | 2001–2007 | 3.6 |
2007–2018 | 1.8 |
7.8 | 4.5 | 1999–2018 | −2.8 |
- | - | - | - |
APC was calculated using age-standardized incidence data based on Segi’s world standard population. APC, annual percentage change; CNS, central nervous system.
Significantly different from zero (p < 0.05),
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.
Trends in the 5-year relative survival rates (%) by sex and year of diagnosis from 1993 to 2018 in Korea
Site/Type | Both sexes | Men | Women | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
1993–1995 | 1996–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–2015 | 2014–2018 | Change |
1993–1995 | 1996–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–2015 | 2014–2018 | Change |
1993–1995 | 1996–2000 | 2001–2005 | 2006–2010 | 2011–2015 | 2014–2018 | Change | |
All sites | 42.9 | 45.1 | 54.1 | 65.5 | 70.7 | 70.3 | 27.4 | 33.2 | 36.3 | 45.6 | 56.8 | 63.1 | 63.8 | 30.6 | 55.1 | 56.4 | 64.3 | 74.4 | 78.3 | 77.1 | 22.0 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
All sites excluding thyroid | 41.2 | 43.3 | 50.8 | 59.0 | 64.2 | 65.7 | 24.5 | 32.7 | 35.8 | 44.7 | 54.6 | 60.3 | 61.6 | 28.9 | 52.6 | 53.5 | 59.1 | 65.0 | 69.3 | 70.8 | 18.2 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 42.2 | 47.4 | 54.5 | 61.1 | 65.4 | 68.0 | 25.8 | 36.6 | 41.7 | 49.6 | 56.9 | 61.8 | 65.0 | 28.4 | 59.4 | 64.5 | 68.1 | 72.1 | 74.5 | 75.4 | 16.0 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Esophagus | 14.0 | 15.7 | 21.5 | 30.0 | 36.6 | 39.5 | 25.5 | 13.0 | 14.8 | 20.8 | 29.3 | 36.2 | 38.9 | 25.9 | 25.0 | 25.9 | 29.8 | 37.2 | 40.1 | 44.9 | 19.9 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Stomach | 43.8 | 47.3 | 58.0 | 68.4 | 75.9 | 77.0 | 33.2 | 43.9 | 47.6 | 58.7 | 69.1 | 76.8 | 77.8 | 33.9 | 43.7 | 46.8 | 56.6 | 67.0 | 74.0 | 75.2 | 31.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Colon and rectum | 56.2 | 58.8 | 66.9 | 73.9 | 76.1 | 74.3 | 18.1 | 56.6 | 59.8 | 68.8 | 75.8 | 77.8 | 75.6 | 19.0 | 55.7 | 57.7 | 64.5 | 71.1 | 73.6 | 72.3 | 16.6 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Liver |
11.8 | 14.1 | 20.5 | 28.3 | 34.4 | 37.0 | 25.2 | 10.8 | 13.8 | 20.4 | 28.2 | 34.9 | 37.8 | 27.0 | 15.0 | 15.1 | 20.9 | 28.3 | 32.8 | 34.7 | 19.7 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Gallbladder |
18.7 | 20.7 | 23.1 | 26.9 | 28.7 | 28.8 | 10.1 | 18.0 | 21.1 | 23.4 | 27.8 | 29.4 | 29.8 | 11.8 | 19.3 | 20.3 | 22.7 | 26.0 | 28.0 | 27.8 | 8.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Pancreas | 10.6 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 10.8 | 12.6 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 10.2 | 11.9 | 1.9 | 11.5 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 11.4 | 13.2 | 1.7 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Larynx | 61.6 | 63.3 | 66.5 | 73.2 | 75.1 | 78.6 | 17.0 | 62.1 | 63.7 | 67.1 | 73.5 | 75.5 | 78.9 | 16.8 | 56.3 | 58.9 | 58.7 | 68.0 | 68.8 | 74.1 | 17.8 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Lung |
12.5 | 13.6 | 16.6 | 20.3 | 27.5 | 32.4 | 19.9 | 11.6 | 12.4 | 15.3 | 18.0 | 23.3 | 27.0 | 15.4 | 15.8 | 17.5 | 20.2 | 26.0 | 37.3 | 44.3 | 28.5 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Breast | 79.2 | 83.6 | 88.7 | 91.2 | 92.8 | 93.3 | 14.1 | 77.1 | 84.3 | 87.5 | 89.9 | 90.5 | 91.9 | 14.8 | 79.3 | 83.6 | 88.7 | 91.2 | 92.8 | 93.3 | 14.0 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Cervix uteri | 78.3 | 80.3 | 81.5 | 80.7 | 80.3 | 80.5 | 2.2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 78.3 | 80.3 | 81.5 | 80.7 | 80.3 | 80.5 | 2.2 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Corpus uteri | 82.9 | 82.0 | 84.7 | 86.5 | 87.8 | 88.6 | 5.7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 82.9 | 82.0 | 84.7 | 86.5 | 87.8 | 88.6 | 5.7 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Ovary | 60.1 | 59.4 | 61.7 | 61.2 | 64.7 | 65.2 | 5.1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 60.1 | 59.4 | 61.7 | 61.2 | 64.7 | 65.2 | 5.1 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Prostate | 59.2 | 69.3 | 81.0 | 92.0 | 94.2 | 94.4 | 35.2 | 59.2 | 69.3 | 81.0 | 92.0 | 94.2 | 94.4 | 35.2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Testis | 87.4 | 90.4 | 90.7 | 93.1 | 94.8 | 95.1 | 7.7 | 87.4 | 90.4 | 90.7 | 93.1 | 94.8 | 95.1 | 7.7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Kidney | 64.2 | 67.0 | 73.7 | 78.6 | 82.6 | 84.1 | 19.9 | 63.4 | 65.3 | 73.1 | 78.5 | 82.2 | 84.3 | 20.9 | 65.8 | 70.3 | 74.9 | 79.0 | 83.4 | 83.7 | 17.9 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Bladder | 70.7 | 73.6 | 76.0 | 77.2 | 76.4 | 76.6 | 5.9 | 71.6 | 75.1 | 77.8 | 79.2 | 78.3 | 78.6 | 7.0 | 67.2 | 67.2 | 69.1 | 69.1 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 1.0 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Brain and CNS | 40.4 | 39.9 | 41.0 | 42.9 | 41.6 | 40.9 | 0.5 | 39.1 | 38.6 | 40.3 | 41.3 | 40.1 | 39.8 | 0.7 | 42.2 | 41.4 | 41.8 | 44.6 | 43.2 | 42.2 | - |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Thyroid | 94.5 | 95.0 | 98.4 | 100.0 | 100.2 | 100.0 | 5.5 | 87.8 | 89.7 | 96.0 | 100.2 | 100.6 | 100.4 | 12.6 | 95.7 | 96.0 | 98.7 | 99.9 | 100.1 | 99.9 | 4.2 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 70.1 | 71.9 | 76.7 | 81.1 | 82.3 | 84.5 | 14.4 | 69.2 | 69.3 | 74.7 | 80.8 | 81.8 | 81.8 | 12.6 | 71.5 | 77.3 | 80.7 | 81.6 | 83.2 | 88.8 | 17.3 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 48.3 | 51.1 | 56.0 | 59.4 | 62.8 | 64.0 | 15.7 | 46.8 | 49.6 | 55.0 | 59.2 | 62.8 | 64.8 | 18.0 | 50.7 | 53.3 | 57.5 | 59.7 | 62.8 | 62.9 | 12.2 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Multiple myeloma | 23.5 | 21.1 | 29.7 | 35.0 | 41.5 | 46.6 | 23.1 | 23.0 | 19.2 | 29.9 | 35.2 | 41.0 | 46.9 | 23.9 | 24.1 | 23.3 | 29.5 | 34.7 | 42.0 | 46.4 | 22.3 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Leukemia | 27.5 | 34.3 | 42.0 | 47.7 | 51.9 | 53.4 | 25.9 | 27.3 | 33.3 | 41.8 | 46.9 | 52.2 | 53.4 | 26.1 | 27.8 | 35.5 | 42.2 | 48.7 | 51.6 | 53.6 | 25.8 |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Other and ill-defined | 44.5 | 48.3 | 57.8 | 67.6 | 72.7 | 74.8 | 30.3 | 39.6 | 44.7 | 54.0 | 63.8 | 69.3 | 71.7 | 32.1 | 50.1 | 52.6 | 62.0 | 71.6 | 76.1 | 77.9 | 27.8 |
CNS, central nervous system.
Absolute percentage change in 5-year relative survival from 1993 to 1995 and 2014 to 2018,
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.
Crude and age-standardized rates of cancer prevalence by sex on January 1, 2019 in Korea
Site/Type | Crude prevalence rates per 100,000 |
Age-standardized prevalence rates per 100,000 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||
Both sexes | Men | Women | Both sexes | Men | Women | |
All sites | 3,909.3 | 3,441.4 | 4,375.5 | 2,216.8 | 2,018.5 | 2,499.4 |
| ||||||
Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx | 53.7 | 72.0 | 35.5 | 30.9 | 43.0 | 20.2 |
| ||||||
Esophagus | 21.9 | 39.3 | 4.6 | 11.0 | 21.7 | 2.2 |
| ||||||
Stomach | 593.1 | 786.2 | 400.7 | 304.6 | 440.6 | 191.7 |
| ||||||
Colon and rectum | 517.1 | 616.3 | 418.4 | 262.5 | 347.0 | 193.7 |
| ||||||
Liver |
139.9 | 210.5 | 69.5 | 76.7 | 122.3 | 35.3 |
| ||||||
Gallbladder |
46.8 | 48.5 | 45.2 | 22.6 | 26.7 | 19.4 |
| ||||||
Pancreas | 26.0 | 27.1 | 24.9 | 14.1 | 15.7 | 12.8 |
| ||||||
Larynx | 22.3 | 42.1 | 2.6 | 11.1 | 23.3 | 1.2 |
| ||||||
Lung |
182.5 | 222.5 | 142.6 | 92.8 | 123.6 | 68.9 |
| ||||||
Breast | 463.5 | 3.4 | 921.8 | 273.9 | 1.9 | 539.4 |
| ||||||
Cervix uteri | 111.3 | - | 222.2 | 64.6 | - | 126.4 |
| ||||||
Corpus uteri | 55.1 | - | 109.9 | 32.5 | - | 64.1 |
| ||||||
Ovary | 44.1 | - | 88.1 | 28.4 | - | 56.4 |
| ||||||
Prostate | 188.8 | 378.3 | - | 85.7 | 200.7 | - |
| ||||||
Testis | 7.3 | 14.6 | - | 6.5 | 12.8 | - |
| ||||||
Kidney | 90.4 | 122.3 | 58.6 | 52.0 | 73.9 | 32.2 |
| ||||||
Bladder | 73.5 | 120.0 | 27.2 | 35.2 | 66.1 | 11.3 |
| ||||||
Brain and CNS | 24.1 | 24.7 | 23.4 | 19.9 | 21.1 | 18.7 |
| ||||||
Thyroid | 843.9 | 302.5 | 1,383.3 | 536.4 | 196.8 | 874.0 |
| ||||||
Hodgkin lymphoma | 6.3 | 7.8 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 4.0 |
| ||||||
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | 68.7 | 78.1 | 59.3 | 45.7 | 54.8 | 37.2 |
| ||||||
Multiple myeloma | 13.7 | 14.4 | 13.0 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 6.3 |
| ||||||
Leukemia | 46.4 | 51.8 | 41.0 | 41.5 | 46.6 | 36.4 |
| ||||||
Other and ill-defined | 269.1 | 259.2 | 279.0 | 155.8 | 165.8 | 147.6 |
CNS, central nervous system.
Crude prevalence rate: number of prevalent cases divided by the corresponding person-years of observation. Prevalent cases were defined as patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2018, and who were alive on January 1, 2019. Multiple primary cancer cases were counted multiple times,
Age-adjusted using Segi’s world standard population,
Includes the liver and intrahepatic bile duct,
Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract,
Includes the lung and bronchus.