The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Brain cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C71 (Malignant neoplasm of brain)
New cases
In 2021, there were 1,925 new cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,139 males and 786 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 2,098 new cases of brain cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (1,262 males and 836 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 156 (or 0.64%) risk of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 130 or 0.77% for males and 1 in 196 or 0.51% for females).
Graph: statistics-brain-cancer-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons (9.3 for males and 6.0 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons (9.5 for males and 5.8 for females). The incidence rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 80–84 years.
Graph: statistics-brain-cancer-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates-2025
The number of new cases of brain cancer diagnosed increased from 854 (491 males and 363 females) in 1982 to 1,925 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 7.0 cases per 100,000 persons (8.3 for males and 5.8 for females) in 1982 to 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, brain cancer was the ninth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the ninth most common cause of death from cancer in 2025.
In 2023, there were 1,597 deaths from brain cancer in Australia (956 males and 641 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1,639 deaths (979 males and 660 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 195 (or 0.51%) risk of dying from brain cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 165 or 0.61% for males and 1 in 240 or 0.42% for females).
Graph: statistics-brain-cancer-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 6.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 4.6 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.4 for males and 4.5 for females). The mortality rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 85−89 years.
Graph: statistics-brain-cancer-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from brain cancer increased from 663 persons (376 males and 287 females) in 1982 to 1,597 persons in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar at 5.8 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.9 for males and 4.9 for females) in 1982 and 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with brain cancer had a 24% chance (22% for males and 26% 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 brain cancer improved from 21% to 24%.
Graph: statistics-brain-cancer-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 1,428 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer that year, 3,676 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 9,218 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information, see Brain 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.
