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 2021, there were 3,058 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,346 males and 711 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 3,345 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,548 males and 797 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 103 (or 1.0%) risk of being diagnosed with bladder cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 67 or 1.5% for males and 1 in 234 or 0.4% for females).
Graph: statistics-bladder-cancer-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 12 cases per 100,000 persons (21 for males and 5.3 for females). In 2025, 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.
Graph: statistics-bladder-cancer-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates-2025
The number of new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed increased from 2,147 (1,570 males and 577 females) in 1982 to 3,058 in 2021. 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 12 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, there were 1,184 deaths from bladder cancer in Australia (845 males and 339 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1,156 deaths (828 males and 328 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 418 (or 0.2%) risk of dying from bladder cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 286 or 0.3% for males and 1 in 793 or 0.1% for females).
Graph: statistics-bladder-cancer-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 4.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 2.3 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 4.2 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.9 for males and 2.1 for females). The mortality rate for bladder cancer is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-bladder-cancer-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from bladder cancer increased from 603 persons (428 males and 175 females) in 1982 to 1,156 persons in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 7.5 deaths per 100,000 persons (14 for males and 3.7 for females) in 1982 to 4.6 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer had a 57% chance (60% for males and 50% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1987–1991 and 2017–2021, five-year relative survival for bladder cancer decreased from 66% to 57%.
Graph: statistics-bladder-cancer-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 2,564 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer that year, 9,117 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021), and 22,016 people living who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
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.
