Brain cancer in Australia statistics

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 2020, there were 1,879 new cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,099 males and 780 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 1,997 new cases of brain cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (1,198 males and 799 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 162 (or 0.62%) risk of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 134 or 0.75% for males and 1 in 205 or 0.49% for females).

In 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 7.5 cases per 100,000 persons (9.2 for males and 6.0 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 7.4 cases per 100,000 persons (9.2 for males and 5.7 for females). The incidence rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 85–89 years.

The number of new cases of brain cancer diagnosed increased from 853 (490 males and 363 females) in 1982 to 1,879 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate remained similar, at 7.0 cases per 100,000 persons (8.3 for males and 5.8 for females) in 1982 and 7.5 cases per 100,000 persons in 2020.

Deaths

In 2020, 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 2024.

In 2022, there were 1,569 deaths from brain cancer in Australia (924 males and 645 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 1,606 deaths (975 males and 631 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 196 (or 0.51%) risk of dying from brain cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 161 or 0.62% for males and 1 in 252 or 0.40% for females).

In 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 6.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.5 for males and 4.8 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.5 for males and 4.4 for females). The mortality rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 85-89 years.

The number of deaths from brain cancer increased from 663 persons (376 males and 287 females) in 1982 to 1,569 persons in 2022. 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 6.1 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2022. 

Survival

In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with brain cancer had a 23% chance (22% for males and 25% 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 brain cancer improved from 20% to 23%. 

Prevalence

At the end of 2020, there were 1,352 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer that year, 3,596 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020) and 8,920 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).

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.

Useful links

• Cancer Council, Brain cancer
• American Cancer Society, Brain and spinal cord tumors in adults
• National Cancer Institute (US), Adult Central Nervous System Tumors Treatment
• Australian Cancer Trials

Last updated 10 June 2025