Brain cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C71 (Malignant neoplasm of brain)

New cases

In 2018, there were 1,854 new cases of brain cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,098 males and 756 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 1,917 new cases of brain cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (1,173 males and 744 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 159 (or 0.63%) risk of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 131 or 0.77% for males and 1 in 204 or 0.49% for females).

Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence in Australia, 2022

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about incidence rates for the most common cancers diagnosed can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer incidence’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/diagnosis/cancer-incidence/cancer-incidence)

In 2018, the age-standardised incidence rate was 6.7 cases per 100,000 persons (8.2 for males and 5.3 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 6.4 cases per 100,000 persons (8.1 for males and 4.8 for females). The incidence rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 80–84 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for brain cancer, 1982 to 2018, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about incidence rates for brain 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 brain cancer diagnosed increased from 854 (491 males and 363 females) in 1982 to 1,854 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate remained similar from 6.3 cases per 100,000 persons (7.5 for males and 5.1 for females) in 1982 to 6.7 cases per 100,000 in 2018.

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 2022.

In 2020, there were 1,455 deaths from brain cancer in Australia (861 males and 594 females). In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 1,525 deaths (926 males and 599 females). In 2022, 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 159 or 0.63% for males and 1 in 254 or 0.39% for females.

Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality in Australia, 2022

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about mortality rates for the most common causes of cancer death can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Cancer mortality’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/cancer-mortality/cancer-mortality)

In 2020, the age-standardised mortality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.0 for males and 3.8 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 4.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.2 for males and 3.7 for females). The mortality rate for brain cancer is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for brain cancer, 1982 to 2020, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables
• More information about mortality rates for brain 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 brain cancer increased from 663 (376 males and 287 females) in 1982 to 1,455 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar from 5.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.0 for males and 4.2 for females) in 1982 to 4.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2020. 

Survival

In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with brain cancer had a 23% chance (22% for males and 24% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1989–1993 and 2014–2018, five-year relative survival for brain cancer improved from 20% to 23%.

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for brain cancer, 1989–1993 to 2014–2018, by sex

Notes

• Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2022 web report and supplementary data tables.
• More information about 5-year relative survival rates for brain cancer over time, by age, sex, Indigenous status, remoteness, and socioeconomic status (SES) can be found on the NCCI website in the ‘Relative survival rate’ section (https://ncci.canceraustralia.gov.au/outcomes/relative-survival-rate/5-year-relative-survival)

Prevalence

At the end of 2017, there were 1,278 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer that year, 3,392 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 8,168 people living who had been diagnosed with brain cancer in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).

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