The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Melanoma skin cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer code C43 (Malignant neoplasm of skin).
New cases
Melanoma of the skin was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2020. It is estimated that it will remain the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2024.
In 2020, there were 14,686 new cases of melanoma of the skin diagnosed in Australia (8,546 males and 6,135 females). In 2024, it is estimated that 18,964 new cases of melanoma of the skin will be diagnosed in Australia (11,034 males and 7,930 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 17 (or 6.0%) risk of being diagnosed with melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 14 or 7.0% for males and 1 in 21 or 4.9% for females).
Graph: Statistic - melanoma - Figure 1. Estimated cancer incidence 2024
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 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 2020, the age-standardised incidence rate was 59 cases per 100,000 persons (73 for males and 47 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 70 cases per 100,000 persons (86 for males and 56 for females). The incidence rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age, highest for those aged 85–89 years.
Graph: Statistic - melanoma - Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about incidence rates for melanoma of the skin 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 melanoma of the skin diagnosed increased from 3,540 (1,738 males and 1,802 females) in 1982 to 14,686 in 2020. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 30 cases per 100,000 persons (32 for males and 28 for females) in 1982 to 59 cases per 100,000 in 2020.
Deaths
In 2022, melanoma of the skin was the tenth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will become the eleventh most common cause of death from cancer in 2024.
In 2022, there were 1,411 deaths from melanoma of the skin in Australia (982 males and 429 females). In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 1,340 deaths (892 males and 448 females). In 2024, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 272 (or 0.4%) risk of dying from melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 201 or 0.5% for males and 1 in 427 or 0.2% for females).
Graph: Statistic - melanoma - Figure 3. Estimated cancer mortality
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Two sources are used for cancer mortality reporting rankings (National Mortality Database and Australian Cancer Database). Mortality data reported for cancer of unknown primary site, liver cancer and stomach cancer in the chart above is from the Australian Cancer Database. Data from the National Mortality Database is presented in-text unless it is unavailable. More information can be found at AIHW interim guidelines (https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia/contents/cancer-data-commentaries/interim-guidelines-choosing-which-mortality-data)
- 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 2022, the age-standardised mortality rate was 5.5 deaths per 100,000 persons (8.5 for males and 3.1 for females). In 2024, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 4.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (7 for males and 3.0 for females). The mortality rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age.
Graph: Statistic - melanoma - Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2024 Australian Standard Population
- More information about mortality rates for melanoma of the skin 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 melanoma of the skin increased from 596 (380 males and 216 females) in 1982 to 1,411 persons in 2022. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar from 5.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 3.8 for females) in 1982 to 5.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
Survival
In 2016–2020, individuals diagnosed with melanoma of the skin had a 94.1% chance (92.9% for males and 95.8% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1991–1995 and 2016–2020, five-year relative survival for melanoma of the skin increased from 90.0% to 94.1%.
Graph: Statistic - melanoma - Figure 5. 5-year relative survival
Notes
- Data sourced from AIHW Cancer Data in Australia 2024 web report and supplementary data tables
- More information about 5-year relative survival rates for melanoma of the skin 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 2020, there were 14,383 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin that year, 68,589 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 5 years (from 2016 to 2020) and 232,563 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 39 years (from 1982 to 2020).
For more information, see Melanoma of the skin 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.
