Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2022
- Author:
Eun Hye PARK
1
;
Kyu-Won JUNG
;
Nam Ju PARK
;
Mee Joo KANG
;
E Hwa YUN
;
Hye-Jin KIM
;
Jeong-Eun KIM
;
Hyun-Joo KONG
;
Kui-Son CHOI
;
Han-Kwang YANG
;
Author Information
- Publication Type:Special Article
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):312-330
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2022, with international comparisons.
Materials and Methods:Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2022), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2023. Mortality data obtained from Statistics Korea, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data.
Results:In 2022, 282,047 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 287.0 per 100,000) and 83,378 deaths from cancer (ASR, 65.7 per 100,000) were reported. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 50.9% in 2022. Stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer showed increased localized-stage diagnoses by 18.1, 18.5, and 9.9 percentage points, respectively. Compared to 2001-2005, the 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) increased by 20.4 percentage points for stomach cancer, 7.6 for colorectal cancer, and 5.6 for breast cancer. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence (M/I) ratios for these cancers. The 5-year relative survival (2018-2022) was 72.9%, contributing to over 2.59 million prevalent cases in 2022.
Conclusion:Since the launch of the National Cancer Screening Program in 2002, early detection has improved, increasing the diagnosis of localized-stage cancers and survival rates. Korea recorded the lowest M/I ratio among major comparison countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of its National Cancer Control Program.
