GENEVA: The number of new cancer cases will increase to over 35 million in 2050 — 77 % higher than the figure in 2022, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer agency warned Thursday. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) quoted tobacco, obesity, alcohol, and air pollution as major factors in the estimated increase.
The World Health Body said that more than 35 million new cancer cases are forecast in 2050, around 77-percent increase from the some 20 million cases reported in 2022.
The statement of WHO said that the rapidly-growing international cancer burden reflects both population ageing and growth, as well as changes to citizens’ exposure to risk factors, several of which are linked with socioeconomic development.
New Cancer Cases to Increase 77% by 2050: World Health Body
It added that alcohol, tobacco, and obesity are major factors behind the increasing incidence of cancer, with air pollution still a main driver of environmental risk factors. The most-developed nations are expected to record the greatest raise in case numbers, with an additional 4.8 million new cases forecast in 2050 compared with 2022 estimates, the WHO stated.
But in terms of percentages, nations on the low end of the Human Development Index used by the United Nations will see the greatest proportional increase — up 142 percent. And nations in the medium range are due to report a 99-percent increase, it further said.
