What is early-onset cancer?
Early-onset cancer is defined as cancer diagnosed beyond adolescence but before the age of 50 years of age (20-49 years). Early-onset cancers relate to cancer subtypes that most commonly occur in older age groups and are not part of a known inherited genetic syndrome.
Since 2000, there has been an increase in incidence in a number of ‘early-onset’ cancers, including bowel (colorectal), thyroid, breast, prostate and kidney cancer, both in Australia and other parts of the world.
It is important to note that these increases reflect relatively small case numbers and cancer remains most common in older people. In 2025 it was estimated 88% of cancers were diagnosed in people aged 50 or more.
The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
This page includes information on cancers diagnosed in persons aged 20-49 years, commonly known as early-onset cancers.
Unless specified, references to early-onset cancer include all cancers diagnosed in persons aged 20-49 years.
New cases
In 2021, 17,105 new cases of early-onset cancer were diagnosed in Australia (6,542 males and 10,556 females). In 2025, this number is estimated to rise to 18,600 new cases of early-onset cancer (7,247 males and 11,353 females).
The age-specific incidence rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2025 are presented in Figure 1 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
The number of new early-onset cancer cases in Australia rose from 12,752 in 2000 (5,152 males and 7,600 females) to an estimated 18,600 in 2025.
Over the same period, age-specific incidence rates varied by age group:
- Persons aged 20–29: decreased from 54 to an estimated 50 cases per 100,000 (53 to 47 for males; 54 to 54 for females)
- Persons aged 30–39: increased from 121 to an estimated 135 cases per 100,000 (98 to 103 for males; 143 to 166 for females)
- Persons aged 40–49: increased from 280 to an estimated 313 cases per 100,000 (218 to 240 for males; 342 to 385 for females)
The age-specific incidence rates for all early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 2 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-2-age-specific-incidence-rates-2025
The age-specific incidence rates in 2000 and 2025 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 3 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-3-age-specific-incidence-rates-2000-2025
Deaths
In 2023, there were 1,939 deaths from early-onset cancer in Australia (929 males and 1,010 females). In 2025 it is estimated that there will be 1,897 deaths (913 males and 984 females). The age-specific mortality rates for selected early-onset cancers in 2025 are presented in Figure 4 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-4-estimated-cancer-mortality-2025
The number of deaths from early-onset cancer cases in Australia decreased from 2,328 persons (1,054 males and 1,274 females) in 2000 to an estimated 1,897 persons in 2025.
Over the same period, age-specific mortality rates decreased:
- Persons aged 20–29: decreased from 5.6 to an estimated 3.4 deaths per 100,000 (5.7 to 3.9 for males; 5.5 to 2.7 for females)
- Persons aged 30–39: decreased from 18 to an estimated 11 deaths per 100,000 (16 to 10 for males; 20 to 12 for females)
- Persons aged 40–49: decreased from 60 to an estimated 37 deaths per 100,000 (54 to 35 for males; 65 to 38 for females)
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-5-age-specific-mortality-2000-2025
The age-specific mortality rates in 2000 and 2025 for selected early-onset cancers are presented in Figure 6 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-6-estimated-cancer-mortality-2000-2025
Early-onset Colorectal Cancer
Between 2000 and 2025, age-specific incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer increased among younger age groups:
- For people aged 20–29 rates increased from 2.2 to an estimated 4.6 cases per 100,000
- For people aged 30–39 rates increased from 6.3 to an estimated 19 cases per 100,000
- For people aged 40–49 rates increased from 25 to an estimated 31 cases per 100,000
In contrast, incidence rates for persons aged 50 and older declined over the same period:
- For people aged 50-59 rates decreased from 83 to an estimated 68 cases per 100,000
- For people aged 60–69 rates decreased from 211 to an estimated 100 cases per 100,000
- For people aged 70–79 rates decreased from 359 to an estimated 154 cases per 100,000
- For ages 80–89 rates decreased from 443 to an estimated 321 cases per 100,00
- For people aged 90+ rates decreased from 384 to an estimated 360 cases per 100,000
The age-specific incidence rates for colorectal cancer are presented in Figure 7 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-7-estimated-cancer-incidence-by-age-colorectal-2000-2025
Between 2000 and 2025, age-specific mortality rates of colorectal cancer decreased for most age groups, with a slight increase projected for persons aged 30-39.
- For people aged 20–29 rates decreased from 0.3 to an estimated 0.2 deaths per 100,000
- For people aged 30–39 rates increased from 1.8 to an estimated 2.8 deaths per 100,000
- For people aged 40–49 rates decreased from 6.3 to an estimated 6.2 deaths per 100,000
- For people aged 50-59 rates decreased from 25 to an estimated 14 deaths per 100,000
- For people aged 60–69 rates decreased from 74 to an estimated 27 deaths per 100,000
- For people aged 70–79 rates decreased from 142 to an estimated 51 deaths per 100,000
- For ages 80–89 rates decreased from 237 to an estimated 163 deaths per 100,00
- For people aged 90+ rates decreased from 389 to an estimated 390 deaths per 100,000
The age-specific mortality rates for colorectal cancer are presented in Figure 8 below.
Graph: statistics-eoc-figure-8-estimated-cancer-mortality-by-age-colorectal-2000-2025
For more information, see 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.
