Liver cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C22 (Malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts).

New cases

In 2018, there were 2,412 new cases of liver cancer diagnosed in Australia (1,808 males and 605 females). In 2022, it is estimated that 2,905 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (2,113 males and 792 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 103 (or 0.97%) risk of being diagnosed with liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 70 or 1.4% for males and 1 in 195 or 0.51% for females).

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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 8.1 cases per 100,000 persons (13 for males and 3.9 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 8.8 cases per 100,000 persons (14 for males and 4.6 for females). The incidence rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 80–84 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for liver 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 liver 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 liver cancer diagnosed increased from 228 (167 males and 61 females) in 1982 to 2,412 in 2018. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 1.8 cases per 100,000 persons (2.9 for males and 0.9 for females) in 1982 to 8.1 cases per 100,000 in 2018.

Deaths

In 2020, liver cancer was the seventh most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the seventh most common cause of death from cancer in 2022.

In 2020, there were 2,192 deaths from liver cancer in Australia (1,468 males and 724 females). In 2022, it is estimated that there will be 2,492 deaths (1,654 males and 838 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 121 (or 0.83%) risk of dying from liver cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 89 or 1.1% for males and 1 in 187 or 0.54% 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 6.8 deaths per 100,000 persons (9.7 for males and 4.2 for females). In 2022, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 7.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (10 for males and 4.6 for females). The mortality rate for liver cancer is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for liver 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 liver 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 liver cancer increased from 282 (185 males and 97 females) in 1982 to 2,192 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate increased from 2.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (3.3 for males and 1.5 for females) in 1982 to 6.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2020. 

Survival

In 2014–2018, individuals diagnosed with liver cancer had a 22% chance (23% for males and 20% 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 liver cancer improved from 6.8% to 22%. 

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for liver 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 liver 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 1,510 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer that year, 4,066 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2013 to 2017) and 6,069 people living who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in the previous 36 years (from 1982 to 2017).

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.