Lung cancer continues to climb among women while it keeps falling among men across most EU‑27/EFTA countries. This tendency is evident from data on lung cancer trends available in the European Cancer Information System. 

According to the most updated estimates, recently released in ECIS for the year 2024, 120,290 women were diagnosed with lung cancer, accounting for 9% of all female cancer cases, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. For men, 203.403 new diagnoses were estimated, representing almost 14% of all male cancer cases, also excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in men, with 165,416 deaths in 2024. It is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among women, with roughly 90,000 women having lost their lives.   

The burden concentrates on middle‑aged and older adults: 90% of diagnoses and 88% of deaths occur between ages 45 and 84. 

Geographical differences are stark. In 2024, lung cancer incidence was estimated to vary across EU-27/EFTA countries four-fold in women and 3.5 in men.

Smoking remains the leading risk factor for lung cancer. The rise in lung cancer among women reflects higher smoking rates in previous decades, as the disease typically develops many years after tobacco exposure. As a result, incidence continues to increase despite declining smoking prevalence today. More information in the new factsheet of the European Cancer Information System: Factsheet.