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 2021. It is estimated that it will remain the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2025.
In 2021, there were 15,034 new cases of melanoma of the skin diagnosed in Australia (8,854 males and 6,170 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 17,443 new cases of melanoma of the skin will be diagnosed in Australia (10,187 males and 7,256 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 19 (or 5.4%) risk of being diagnosed with melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 16 or 6.4% for males and 1 in 23 or 4.4% for females).
Graph: statistics-melanoma-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025.csv
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 60 cases per 100,000 persons (75 for males and 47 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 63 cases per 100,000 persons (78 for males and 50 for females). The incidence rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age, up to 80–84 years.
Graph: statistics-melanoma-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates
The number of new cases of melanoma of the skin diagnosed increased from 3,561 (1,746 males and 1,815 females) in 1982 to 15,034 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 30 cases per 100,000 persons (32 for males and 29 for females) in 1982 to 60 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, melanoma of the skin was the tenth most common cause of cancer death in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the tenth most common cause of death from cancer in 2025.
In 2023, there were 1,527 deaths from melanoma of the skin in Australia (1,038 males and 489 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 1,455 deaths (990 males and 465 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 253 (or 0.40%) risk of dying from melanoma of the skin by the age of 85 (1 in 181 or 0.55% for males and 1 in 422 or 0.24% for females).
Graph: statistics-melanoma-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons (8.8 for males and 3.4 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 5.3 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.9 for males and 3.1 for females). The mortality rate for melanoma of the skin is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-melanoma-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates
The number of deaths from melanoma of the skin increased from 596 (380 males and 216 females) in 1982 to 1,527 persons in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar at 5.6 deaths per 100,000 persons (7.6 for males and 3.9 for females) in 1982 and 5.9 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with melanoma of the skin had a 94% chance (92% for males and 96% 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 melanoma of the skin increased from 88% to 94%.
Graph: statistics-melanoma-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 14,689 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin that year, 69,131 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 240,714 people living who had been diagnosed with melanoma of the skin in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
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.
