Global Cervical Cancer Incidence, Mortality Predicted to Significantly Rise by 2030

The global burden of cervical cancer, as well as cervical cancer mortality, is predicted to increase substantially by 2030, according to a new overview published in the International Journal of Cancer.

“Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge worldwide, despite being largely preventable through effective interventions. Timely evidence regarding the global landscape of cervical cancer is crucial for measuring the magnitude of inequalities and monitoring progress towards cervical cancer elimination,” the researchers noted.

The investigators provided a current overview of the global burden of cervical cancer using the GLOBOCAN 2022 database. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were presented according to country, and global burden was calculated based on demographic projections.

A Troubling Projection for the Future

The researchers found that there were an estimated 662,301 new cervical cancer cases and 348,874 deaths in 2022. They noted that appreciable geographic disparities in cervical cancer burden existed across countries and world regions. Notably, low Human Development Index (HDI)  countries showed 2 times higher incidence rates and 5 times higher mortality rates, compared with very high HDI countries. In females (aged 15-44 years) cervical cancer ranked among the top 3 most frequent cancers in 149 countries and among the top 3 causes of cancer deaths in 154 countries. The investigators noted that if 2022 rates remain unchanged, the global burden of cervical cancer is predicted to increase to 14.8%, and deaths, by 17.8%  by 2030.

“Our findings highlight the persistent and widening geographic and socioeconomic inequalities in the burden of cervical cancer. There is an urgent need for tailored national strategies to address these inequalities and accelerate progress towards the goal of elimination of cervical cancer,” the researchers concluded.

Source

Li Z, Liu P, Yin A, et al. Global landscape of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in 2022 and predictions to 2030: the urgent need to address inequalities in cervical cancer. Int J Cancer. Published online March 3, 2025.