The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Kidney cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C64 (Malignant neoplasm of kidney).
New cases
Kidney cancer was the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2021. It is estimated that it will remain the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2025.
In 2021, there were 4,338 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed in Australia (2,882 males and 1,456 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 4,868 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (3,313 males and 1,555 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 66 (or 1.5%) risk of being diagnosed with kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 48 or 2.1% for males and 1 in 105 or 0.95% for females).
Graph: statistics-kidney-cancer-figure-1-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 17 cases per 100,000 persons (24 for males and 11 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 18 cases per 100,000 persons (25 for males and 11 for females). The incidence rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age up to 65−69 years, and then to vary with age.
Graph: statistics-kidney-cancer-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates-2025
The number of new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed increased from 793 (534 males and 259 females) in 1982 to 4,338 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 7.6 cases per 100,000 persons (12 for males and 4.5 for females) in 1982 to 17 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, there were 1,017 deaths from kidney cancer in Australia (701 males and 316 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1,005 deaths (691 males and 314 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 360 (or 0.28%) risk of dying from kidney cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 251 or 0.40% for males and 1 in 643 or 0.16% for females).
Graph: statistics-kidney-cancer-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 3.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (5.9 for males and 2.2 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 3.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (5.4 for males and 2.1 for females). The mortality rate for kidney cancer is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-kidney-cancer-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from kidney cancer increased from 488 (296 males and 192 females) in 1982 to 1,017 in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 4.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.9 for males and 3.5 for females) in 1982 to 3.9 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with kidney cancer had an 83% chance (83% for males and 83% 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 kidney cancer improved from 51% to 83%.
Graph: statistics-kidney-cancer-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 4,029 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer that year, 16,889 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 43,432 people living who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information on cancer data, 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.
