In this article, we take a look at the 15 countries with the highest rates of lung cancer. If you would like to skip our detailed analysis of the lung cancer therapeutics industry, you can directly go to the 5 Countries with the Highest Rates of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the world. Statistics worldwide showcase that the prevalance of the disease has increased globally over the past few years. This escalation in the number of individuals with lung cancer has led to a growing demand for advanced technology to deal with the illness and its side effects. As a result of this trend, the lung cancer therapeutics market has been witnessing steady growth all around the globe. According to Precedence Research, the global lung cancer therapeutics market was valued at $28 billion in 2022 and is expected to be worth more than $59.61 billion by 2032. The predicted CAGR for the period 2023-2032 is currently 7.90%, meaning that the industry is only anticipated to do well. 

If we take a region-wise approach, North America currently dominates the market and is expected to do so throughout the forecast period. The two main reasons for this market size are the increased penetration of health insurance and a significantly developed healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, many leading biopharmaceutical companies are also present in this region, contributing immensely to the growth of the North American lung cancer market. You can also check out the 14 Best Cancer Stocks To Buy Now in order to get more insight on this topic. 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) is one of the leading companies when it comes to cancer research in the US. The company has conducted detailed research trials on how lung cancer can be dealt with during the earlier stages of the disease before it spreads. As recently as September 2023, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) announced favorable results pertaining to a therapy method they were testing for non-small cell lung cancer. NSCLC is currently one of the most common types of lung cancer, and it can represent up to 84% of all diagnoses. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) has also been carrying out many other cancer-related trials side by side, some of which have received approval from the EU. 

Some of the latest research on lung cancer has shown that low-dose CT scans can help screen for lung cancer in those who smoke heavily. This is particularly helpful because lung cancer is more likely to be treated successfully if caught at earlier stages. Furthermore, the CDC reports that 80% to 90% of lung cancer-related deaths in the US are linked to tobacco smoking, making this the leading cause of the disease in the country. The issue’s prevalence can be estimated from the fact that the size of the US tobacco industry, as estimated by Grand View Research, is $75.9 billion as of 2021, with the country being the world’s 9th largest tobacco exporter. So not only is tobacco production a national issue, but the industry has also expanded its operations beyond borders. You can check out the 12 Countries that Export the Most Tobacco to see the world’s leading contributors in the tobacco export industry. 

Within the US tobacco market, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is the biggest tobacco seller, reporting a sale of 622 billion units in the year 2022. However, it is pertinent to note that according to various studies, overall tobacco usage has been facing a steady decline for at least the past two decades. Specifically from 2020 to 2021, tobacco sales in the US fell 6.7%, a trend which also affects companies like Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM). Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) itself has revealed that its shipment volumes for tobacco have decreased because the company is committed to delivering a smoke-free future. The downward trend in tobacco sales can be attributed to many reasons, such as stringent laws, heavy taxation, and powerful mass media campaigns. 

Countries with the Lowest Lung Cancer Rates

There are several countries whose lung cancer rates are among the lowest in the world. These include countries like Yemen, Oman, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, among others. For example, Pakistan’s age-standardized incidence rate for lung cancer is only 6 per 100,000 individuals. Contrary to what most believe, lung cancer statistics show that lung cancer rates are higher in Europe than in Asia.

Is Vaping a Healthy Alternative to Traditional Tobacco Smoking?

Big tobacco companies have now shifted their focus towards vapes or products with heated tobacco, generally marketing them as ‘safer’ alternatives to cigarette smoking. However, the latest studies on the subject have found that these products can be as harmful as cigarettes, contributing to several kinds of respiratory diseases. Thus, even places where vaping is more common than cigarette smoking can sometimes find their place in the list of the countries with the highest rates of lung cancer. We have compiled this ranking of the top 15 places with the most lung cancer cases by viewing lung cancer statistics by country and age. 

Our Methodology

For the purpose of this list of countries with the highest rates of lung cancer, we have referred to data compiled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an organization that works under the WHO. The data is retrieved from Cancer Today, which provides various data visualization tools for understanding the prevalence and incidence of multiple types of cancers globally. The data is acquired through a collaboration between the WHO and various population-based cancer registries throughout the world or the International Association of Cancer Registries.

Based on this methodology, the following are the 15 countries with the highest rates of lung cancer depending on the incidence rates for an age-standardized range of 10-69 years for both sexes: 

15. North Korea 

Value: 31.6 

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in North Korea, especially in the female population. Air pollution and second-hand smoke are believed to be two major causes of lung cancer in the country, causing many non-smokers to develop cancer as well. North Korea also has a significant amount of disparities in access to healthcare, making adequate treatment challenging to come by. Data is also scarce, which makes it harder to derive essential healthcare-related conclusions. 

14. Denmark

Value: 32.1 

Denmark has been referred to by some as the ‘cancer capital’ of the world owing to the high prevalence of various types of cancer in the country. Tobacco smoking is the biggest reason Denmark is considered one of the countries with the highest lung cancer rates, so much so that lung cancer within the country has placed a significant economic burden on the population. Individuals diagnosed with lung cancer not only bear higher healthcare costs but also face an indirect burden in terms of reduced household income. 

13. Romania

Value: 32.9

Lung cancer is the biggest culprit behind cancer-related deaths in Romania as well, while also being the leading cancer diagnosis among men. Lung cancer rates in the country are at an all-time, which is the recipe for disaster when paired with limited access to healthcare. These circumstances have led to recent studies that ask for a comprehensive lung cancer registry within the country so the healthcare system can be better prepared for rising lung cancer rates. Romania is also among the European countries with the highest cancer mortality rates. 

12. Poland 

Value: 33.4

Both active and passive smoking are two of the biggest causes behind Poland being one of the countries with the highest rates of lung cancer. Hence, we see a consistent trend between almost all the countries on this list when it comes to the risk factors behind lung cancer. Air pollution is another pertinent problem in the country that leads to lung cancer. Due to Poland’s heavy dependence on coal for power generation, 36 out of the 50 most polluted EU cities are in Poland. This forms quite an unsettling basis for increasing cases of not just cancer but various other diseases. 

11. Croatia 

Value: 33.7

Croatia is another country that ranks amongst the European countries with the highest rates of cancer mortality, often finding its place in the top three. Croatia ranks relatively high in prevalence of various tobacco-related cancers, meaning that any strategy to combat the diseases would have to come with a significant level of tobacco control. Croatia was a transitional European state for many years, only recently achieving the ‘developed’ status. Due to the transition, access to healthcare and research has improved, but there are still many factors to combat to provide better access to anticancer treatments. 

10. North Macedonia 

Value: 34.6

The lung cancer rate in North Macedonia has seen a steady increase over the past few years, with almost 80% of the patients being men and 9 out of 10 patients being smokers. In 2019, North Macedonia had one of the world’s biggest populations of smokers, with almost 46% of its adults smoking some form of tobacco. Smoking cessation treatment programs in the country are also quite limited, making this one of the countries with the highest lung cancer rates.  

09. New Caledonia

Value: 34.6

While tobacco is one of the most common causes of lung cancer across this list, studies conducted in New Caledonia have also pinpointed certain occupational exposures as a reason behind high lung cancer rates. People exposed to elements like field dust or asbestos were usually the ones who struggled with this kind of lung cancer. Thus, New Caledonia is a prime example of the fact that controlling tobacco usage should not be the only policy to deal with lung cancer. 

08. France

Value: 34.9

Despite comprehensive tobacco control policies and a decreasing population of smokers, France still has one of the highest consumptions of tobacco in the Western world. France is also the EU state with the most number of vapers, making the country A-list in the consumption of two huge cancer-causing products. The good part is the country generally has a sound healthcare system, with 12 out of its 18 cancer centers being ranked in the world’s best oncology hospitals, two of them in the top 50. However, there are still disparities in access when it comes specifically to lung cancer, making France one of the countries with the highest rates of lung cancer. 

07. Belgium

Value: 35.4 

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in Belgium but has the highest mortality rates. One of the biggest reasons is the late onset of symptoms, due to which, many people get diagnosed after the cancer has already metastasized. Similar to other countries with the highest rates of lung cancer, the increasing number of diagnoses in Belgium has also been linked to an increase in the population of smokers, especially females. 

06. Turkey 

Value: 35.8

Every year, more than 27,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in Turkey. Like other developed countries, Turkey has also been facing a steady increase in cancer patients. In addition to socioeconomic factors, an aging population is also a big reason behind the high incidence of cancer. As Turkey’s young population ages in the coming years, some experts predict this will become a massive problem in terms of managing diseases like cancer.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Countries with the Highest Rates of Lung Cancer is originally published on Insider Monkey.