Cancer Data and Statistics

What to know

This page describes U.S. Cancer Statistics and lists tools and databases that present these data.

a person looking at data on a digital tablet

Overview

The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) are the official federal cancer statistics. They come from combined cancer registry data collected by CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. These data are used to understand cancer rates and trends, support cancer research, measure progress in cancer control and prevention efforts, focus action on eliminating disparities, and improve cancer outcomes for all.

Fact‎

In the United States in 2020, 1,603,844 new cancer cases were reported, and 602,347 people died of cancer. For every 100,000 people, 403 new cancer cases were reported, and 144 people died of cancer. 2020 is the latest year for which incidence data are available.

Why Use U.S. Cancer Statistics?

This video highlights the features of U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics.

U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool

The Data Visualizations tool makes it easy for anyone to explore and use the latest official federal government cancer data from USCS. It includes the latest cancer data covering the U.S. population.

  • Cancer Rates by US State: See rates of new cancers or cancer deaths for the entire United States and individual states for common cancers. Also, see the top 10 cancers for men and women.
  • Demographics: See rates or numbers of new cancers or cancer deaths by race/ethnicity, sex, and age group for all cancers combined or for common cancers.
  • Trends: See how the rates of new cancers or cancer deaths changed over time for the entire United States and individual states, for all cancers combined or for common cancers.

Other cancer statistics tools

  • CDC WONDER lets you see age-adjusted and crude cancer rates in tabs, maps, and charts. It includes data on adult and childhood cancers by geographic region.
  • State Cancer Profiles provides rates of new cancers at a county level, including a description of trends to see if rates are stable, falling, or rising in your area.
  • Chronic Disease Indicators provides data for chronic diseases and risk factors that have a substantial impact on public health. In the Cancer category, it shows incidence and mortality for selected cancer types, and prevalence of screening test use. Data are presented by race/ethnicity and state.
  • PLACES provides interactive maps for model-based estimates of chronic disease-related measures, including prevalence of cancer and cancer screening test use. PLACES provides model-based population-level analysis and community estimates for all counties, incorporated and census-designated places, census tracts, and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas across the United States.
  • The Disability and Health Data System provides state-level health and demographic data about people with disabilities.
  • Small Area Health Insurance Estimates provides data publications, interactive visualizations, and maps to help identify areas with high rates of uninsured and under-insured people so programs can help those in greatest need.

Databases available to researchers

  • United States Cancer Statistics public use database: You can use SEER*Stat software to analyze population-based incidence data on the entire United States population.
  • United States Cancer Statistics Restricted Access Data: This database includes variables that are not in the United States Cancer Statistics public use database, including county at diagnosis, site-specific factors, and prognostic measures. The database is available through CDC's National Center for Health Statistics Research Data Center.