Simiao Chen; Zhong Cao; Klaus Prettner; et al. JAMA Oncol. 2023;9(4):465-472
Cancers are a leading cause of mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million annual deaths worldwide, or 1 in 6 deaths. Cancers also negatively affect countries’ economicgrowth. This study estimated and projected the economic cost of 29 cancers in 204 countries and territories. The estimated global economic cost of cancers from 2020 to 2050 is $25.2 trillion in international dollars, equivalent to an annual tax of 0.55% on global gross domestic product. The 5 cancers with the highest economic costs are tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (15.4%); colon and rectum cancer (10.9%); breast cancer (7.7%); liver cancer (6.5%); and leukemia (6.3%). China and the US face the largest economic costs of cancers in absolute terms, accounting for 24.1% and 20.8% of the total global burden, respectively. The relative contribution of treatment costs to the total economic cost of cancers is greater in high-income countries than in low-income countries.
24 Mar, 2026