The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Vulvar cancer incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C51 (Malignant neoplasm of vulva).
New cases
In 2021, there were 349 new cases of vulvar cancer diagnosed in Australia. In 2025, it is estimated that 401 new cases of vulvar cancer will be diagnosed in Australia. In 2025, it is estimated that a female has a 1 in 420 (or 0.24%) risk of being diagnosed with vulvar cancer by the age of 85.
Graph: statistics-vulvar-cancer-figure-1-estimated-cancer-mortality-females-2025
In 2021, the age-standardised incidence rate was 2.6 cases per 100,000 females. In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 2.7 cases per 100,000 females. The incidence rate for vulvar cancer is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-vulvar-cancer-figure-2-age-standardised-incidence-rates
The number of new cases of vulvar cancer diagnosed increased from 141 in 1982 to 349 in 2021. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate remained similar at 2.7 cases per 100,000 females in 1982 and 2.6 cases per 100,000 females in 2021.
Deaths
In 2023, there were 99 deaths from vulvar cancer in Australia. In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 115 deaths. In 2025, it is estimated that a female has a 1 in 1,837 (or 0.05%) risk of dying from vulvar cancer by the age of 85.
Graph: statistics-vulvar-cancer-figure-3-estimated-cancer-mortality-females
In 2023, the age-standardised mortality rate was 0.7 deaths per 100,000 females. In 2025, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 0.8 deaths per 100,000 females. The mortality rate for vulvar cancer is expected to increase with age.
Graph: statistics-vulvar-cancer-figure-4-age-standardised-mortality-rates
The number of deaths from vulvar cancer increased from 50 in 1982 to 99 in 2023. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate remained similar at 1.1 deaths per 100,000 females in 1982 and 0.7 deaths per 100,000 females in 2023.
Survival
In 2017–2021, individuals diagnosed with vulvar cancer had a 75% chance 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 vulvar cancer increased from 66% to 75%.
Graph: statistics-vulvar-cancer-figure-5-5-year-relative-survival
Prevalence
At the end of 2021, there were 316 people living who had been diagnosed with vulvar cancer that year, 1,448 people living who had been diagnosed with vulvar cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2017 to 2021) and 4,117 people living who had been diagnosed with vulvar cancer in the previous 40 years (from 1982 to 2021).
For more information on cancer data, see 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.
