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Bladder cancer statistics in Australia

Explore statistics on bladder cancer, including the number of new cases, deaths, survival rates, and overall prevalence.

3,319 Estimated number of new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in 2024
1.9% Estimated % of all new cancer cases diagnosed in 2024
1,121 Estimated number of deaths from bladder cancer in 2024
2.1% Estimated % of all deaths from cancer in 2024
57.3% Chance of surviving at least 5 years (2016–2020)
8,959 People living with bladder cancer at the end of 2020 (diagnosed in the 5-year period 2016 to 2020)

The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Bladder cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C67 (Malignant neoplasm of bladder).

New cases 

In 2020, there were 3,017 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,306 males and 710 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 3,319 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,529 males and 790 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 100 (or 1.0%) risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 65 or 1.5% for males and 1 in 227 or 0.4% for females).

Graph: Statistic - bladder - Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence 2024

Notes

In 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 13 cases per 100,000 persons (21 for males and 5.4 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 12 cases per 100,000 persons (20 for males and 5.3 for females). The incidence rate for bladder cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 90 years and over.

Graph: Statistic - bladder - Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates

Notes

  • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
  • Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population.
  • More information about incidence rates for bladder cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence).

The number of new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed increased from 2,146 (1,569 males and 577 females) in 1982 to 3,017 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate decreased from 23 cases per 100,000 persons (41 for males and 11 for females) in 1982 to 13 cases per 100,000 in 2020.

Deaths

In 2022, there were 1,167 deaths from bladder cancer in Australia (827 males and 340 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 1,121 deaths (791 males and 330 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 410 (or 0.2%) risk of dying from bladder cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 278 or 0.4% for males and 1 in 801 or 0.1% for females).

Graph: Statistic - bladder - Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality

Notes

In 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 4.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.5 for males and 2.3 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 4.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.7 for males and 2.1 for females). The mortality rate for bladder cancer is expected to increase with age.

Graph: Statistic - bladder - Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality

Notes

  • Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables.
  • Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population.
  • More information about mortality rates for bladder cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality).

The number of deaths from bladder cancer increased from 603 (428 males and 175 females) in 1982 to 1,167 persons in 2022. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 7.4 deaths per 100,000 persons (14 for males and 3.7 for females) in 1982 to 4.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.

Survival

In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer had a 57.3% chance (59.3% for males and 50.9% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1991–1995 and 2016–2020, five-year relative survival for bladder cancer decreased from 64.0% to 57.3%.

Graph: Statistic - bladder - Figure 5. 5-year relative survival

Notes

Prevalence

At the end of 2020, there were 2,497 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer that year, 8,959 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020), and 21,506 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).

For more information, see Bladder cancer on the NCCI website

The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.

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