Cancer Burden in Africa Rises Sharply, With More Than 1.5 Million New Cases Recorded in 2023

Africa is facing a rapidly growing cancer burden, with new cancer cases increasing by 229 per cent between 1990 and 2023, according to findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023.

The study estimates that about 1.54 million new cancer cases, 923,000 cancer deaths and 33.9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were recorded across Africa in 2023, highlighting the growing impact of the disease on populations and health systems across the continent.

DALYs measure the total years of healthy life lost because of illness, disability or premature death. Of the 33.9 million cancer-related DALYs recorded in Africa in 2023, 98.2 per cent were attributable to years of life lost, reflecting the significant contribution of premature deaths to the continent’s cancer burden.

The study examined cancer trends across African countries between 1990 and 2023, including incidence, deaths, disability and DALYs, as well as the contribution of major risk factors.

Cancer burden varies significantly across Africa

The distribution of cancer across Africa was not uniform, with considerable differences in incidence and mortality between regions and countries. The study found that Southern Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest age-standardised cancer incidence rate in 2023, at 203.8 cases per 100,000 people. Western Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the lowest regional incidence rate, at 143.1 cases per 100,000.

Mortality patterns differed. Central Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the highest age-standardised cancer death rate, at 139.0 deaths per 100,000 people, while Northern Africa recorded the lowest regional rate, at 96.2 deaths per 100,000. At country level, Equatorial Guinea recorded the highest age-standardised cancer mortality rate, at 178.6 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Ethiopia at 169.9, Madagascar at 161.3, South Sudan at 161.3 and Uganda at 155.7. The lowest rates were recorded in Comoros, at 53.0 deaths per 100,000, followed by The Gambia at 58.8 and Algeria at 62.6.

The geographical distribution also showed differences in the types of cancer driving the burden. Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer DALYs in 22 African countries, while cervical cancer was the leading cause in 20 countries. Liver cancer ranked first in five countries, while tracheal, bronchus and lung cancers were the leading cancers in four countries. Among men, prostate cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in 39 African countries. Liver cancer and tracheal, bronchus and lung cancers each ranked first in five countries. Among women, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in 34 countries, while cervical cancer was the leading cause in 21 countries.

Risk factors contribute substantially to the burden

The research also examined 88 cancer-related risk factors and found that 10.7 million DALYs and 306,000 cancer deaths in Africa in 2023 were attributable to these risks. These represented 31.6 per cent of total cancer DALYs and 33.1 per cent of cancer deaths across all ages and both sexes.

The burden associated with these risk factors has also increased considerably. Between 1990 and 2023, deaths attributable to the assessed risk factors increased by 216 per cent for both sexes combined. The findings underline the importance of prevention and early intervention alongside the expansion of cancer diagnosis and treatment services.

Women continue to face a major burden

Women accounted for an estimated 960,000 new cancer cases in Africa in 2023, with breast and cervical cancers together accounting for 53.5 per cent of all female cancer cases. The two cancers were also responsible for a substantial proportion of cancer deaths among women, highlighting the importance of access to screening, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

For men, prostate, liver, tracheal, bronchus and lung, and colorectal cancers were the leading cancer types. Together, these cancers accounted for 44.8 per cent of all cancer cases among African men in 2023.

Children and young people also affected

The study found a particularly significant burden among children and young people. In 2023, cancers among children aged 0 to 19 years accounted for an estimated 104,000 new cases and 54,700 deaths in Africa.

These figures represented 27.7 per cent of global childhood cancer incidence and 38 per cent of global childhood cancer deaths in 2023. The burden extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Cancer among people aged 15 to 39 years accounted for 26.6 per cent of total cancer DALYs in Africa.

Adults aged 40 to 64 years contributed the largest share, accounting for 44.8 per cent, while people aged 65 years and older accounted for 18.3 per cent.

Growing challenge for African health systems

The findings point to cancer becoming an increasingly important contributor to the overall disease burden in Africa, with rising cases, deaths and years of healthy life lost. The increase in age-standardised mortality and DALY rates presents a challenge to the continent’s efforts to achieve the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Addressing the growing cancer burden will require stronger and more accessible health systems, alongside cancer-control strategies that reflect the specific circumstances of individual countries and communities. Such efforts will need to cover the full cancer-care continuum, from prevention and risk-factor reduction to screening, early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.

The study therefore points to the need for greater investment in cancer prevention and control across Africa, particularly in areas where mortality remains high and access to timely diagnosis and treatment is limited.

Source: GNA