The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Mesothelioma incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C45 (Mesothelioma).
New cases
In 2021, there were 828 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia (659 males and 169 females). In 2025, it is estimated that 898 new cases of mesothelioma will be diagnosed in Australia (699 males and 199 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 364 (or 0.27%) risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 230 or 0.43% for males and 1 in 904 or 0.11% for females).
Graph: statistics-mesothelioma-figure-1-estimated-cancer-incidence-persons-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 3.4 cases per 100,000 persons (5.9 for males and 1.3 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 3.2 cases per 100,000 persons (5.5 for males and 1.3 for females). The incidence rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, up to 85–89 years.
Graph: statistics-mesothelioma-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates-2025
The number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed increased from 157 (135 males and 22 females) in 1982 to 828 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 1.5 cases per 100,000 persons (2.9 for males and 0.4 for females) in 1982 to 3.4 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, there were 688 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia (552 males and 136 females). In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 704 deaths (550 males and 154 females). In 2025, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 466 (or 0.21%) risk of dying from mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 296 or 0.34% for males and 1 in 1,142 or 0.09% for females).
Graph: statistics-mesothelioma-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-persons-2025
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 2.7 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.7 for males and 1.0 for females). In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 2.5 deaths per 100,000 persons (4.4 for males and 1.0 for females). The mortality rate for mesothelioma is expected to increase with age, up to 85–89 years.
Graph: statistics-mesothelioma-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates-2025
The number of deaths from mesothelioma increased from 416 (353 males and 63 females) in 1997 to 688 in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 persons (6.0 for males and 0.8 for females) in 1982 to 2.7 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma had an 8.4% chance (7.0% for males and 13.5% 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 mesothelioma increased from 5.7% to 8.4%.
Graph: statistics-mesothelioma-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival-2025
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 561 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma that year, 1,172 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 1,451 people living who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information, see Mesothelioma 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.
