Cancer Mortality Falls 23.5% in Latest Health Ministry Estimates

Age-standardised cancer mortality in Egypt fell by 23.5% between the 2022 and 2024 estimates, while cancer incidence declined by 17.2%, according to figures from the World Health Organization's Global Cancer Observatory cited by Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.

Despite a 9.8% increase in population, the estimated number of new cancer cases fell from around 150,600 in 2022 to nearly 137,400 in 2024, while estimated deaths declined from 95,300 to 80,500, according to the ministry.

The ministry said liver cancer recorded the largest improvement, with deaths falling by 22.1% and new cases declining by 16.7%. Abdel Ghaffar attributed much of the progress to the presidential 100 Million Healthy Lives Initiative, which led to the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health problem, previously one of the country's leading causes of liver cancer. He added that breast cancer is now the most common type of cancer in Egypt, with nationwide screening and early detection programmes expanded in recent years.

The ministry also reported continued declines in bladder cancer, linking the trend to long-running efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis. In 2024, Egypt's estimated age-standardised cancer incidence rate stood at 137.6 per 100,000 people, around 29% below the global average, while the mortality rate of 82.4 per 100,000 was 6% lower than the worldwide figure. However, both rates remained above the averages for Africa and the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region.

According to the ministry, recent efforts have focused on expanding early detection and improving access to treatment. Through the Women's Health Initiative, around 40,000 breast cancer cases have been detected, with 80% identified at an early stage, while the average period between diagnosis and treatment has been reduced to 49 days. The ministry said it will continue expanding screening programmes and strengthening the national cancer registry.