The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Lymphoma incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C81 (Hodgkin’s disease), C82 (follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), C83 (diffuse non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma), C84 (peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas) and C85 (other and unspecified types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma).
New cases
In 2021, non-Hodgkin lymphoma was the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2025. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma makes up approximately 90% of lymphoma cases in Australia.
In 2021, there were 6,735 new cases of lymphoma diagnosed in Australia (3,783 males and 2,952 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 7,759 new cases of lymphoma will be diagnosed in Australia (4,398 males and 3,361 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 42 (or 2.4%) risk of being diagnosed with lymphoma by the age of 85 (1 in 36 or 2.8% for males and 1 in 49 or 2.1% for females).
Graph: statistics-lymphoma-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 27 cases per 100,000 persons (32 for males and 23 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 28 cases per 100,000 persons (34 for males and 23 for females). The incidence rate for lymphoma is expected to increase with age, up to 80–84 years.
Graph: statistics-lymphoma-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates-2025
The number of new cases of lymphoma diagnosed increased from 1,751 (938 males and 813 females) in 1982 to 6,735 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 16 cases per 100,000 persons (19 for males and 14 for females) in 1982 to 27 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2021, non-Hodgkin lymphoma was the eighth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the eighth most common cause of death from cancer in 2025.
In 2023, there were 1,827 deaths from lymphoma in Australia (1,052 males and 775 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1,938 deaths (1,119 males and 819 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 185 (or 0.54%) risk of dying from lymphoma by the age of 85 (1 in 154 or 0.65% for males and 1 in 233 or 0.43% for females).
Graph: statistics-lymphoma-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 7.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (8.9 for males and 5.5 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 7.0 deaths per 100,000 persons (8.9 for males and 5.4 for females). The mortality rate for lymphoma is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-lymphoma-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from lymphoma increased from 918 (509 males and 409 females) in 1982 to 1,827 in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 9.2 deaths per 100,000 persons (11 for males and 7.6 for females) in 1982 to 7.0 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with lymphoma had a 79% chance (78% for males and 80% 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 lymphoma improved from 53% to 79%.
Graph: statistics-lymphoma-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2017, there were 6,093 people living who had been diagnosed with lymphoma that year, 26,195 people living who had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 75,070 people living who had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information, see Lymphoma 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.
