The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Liver cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C22 (Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts).
New cases
In 2021, there were 2,574 new cases of liver cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,792 males and 782 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 3,175 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,250 males and 925 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 102 (or 1.0%) risk of being diagnosed with liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 71 or 1.4% for males and 1 in 183 or 0.55% for females).
Graph: statistics-liver-cancer-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 10 cases per 100,000 persons (15 for males and 5.9 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 12 cases per 100,000 persons (17 for males and 6.3 for females). The incidence rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 85–89 years.
Graph: statistics-liver-cancer-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates
The number of new cases of liver cancer diagnosed increased from 229 (168 males and 61 females) in 1982 to 2,574 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 2.2 cases per 100,000 persons (3.6 for males and 1.1 for females) in 1982 to 10 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, liver cancer was the seventh most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will be the sixth most common cause of death from cancer in 2025.
In 2023, there were 2,375 deaths from liver cancer in Australia (1,557 males and 818 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 2,632 deaths (1,704 males and 928 females). In 2023, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 126 (or 0.79%) risk of dying from liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 95 or 1.1% for males and 1 in 189 or 0.53% for females).
Graph: statistics-liver-cancer-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 9.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (13 for males and 5.8 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 9.5 deaths per 100,000 persons (13 for males and 6.2 for females). The mortality rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age, up to 85−89 years.
Graph: statistics-liver-cancer-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from liver cancer increased from 282 persons (185 males and 97 females) in 1982 to 2,375 persons in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate increased from 2.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.2 for males and 1.9 for females) in 1982 to 9.1 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with liver cancer had a 24.6% chance (24.8% for males and 24.2% 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 liver cancer increased from 6.2% to 24.6%.
Graph: statistics-liver-cancer-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 1,701 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer that year, 4,974 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 8,041 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information, see Liver 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
