ThePrint ThePrintPod: Cancer death rates declined globally between 1990 and 2023. India was an exception
Sep 26, 2025
A fascinating analysis reveals that while global cancer death rates have declined since 1990, India faces a troubling rise of over 21%. Factors like late diagnosis and limited access to care are driving this increase. The discussion dives into a comprehensive study that assessed cancer statistics from 204 countries, highlighting the stark contrast between global improvements and India's challenges. Future projections suggest that population growth and aging could further impact cancer rates worldwide.
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Divergent Global Trend
- Age-standardized cancer death rates fell globally but rose sharply in India between 1990 and 2023.
- India saw a 21.2 percentage-point increase while global rates declined by 24 percentage points.
Why India's Mortality Rose
- Experts attribute India's rising cancer mortality to late diagnosis, limited oncology access, and widespread exposure to known risks.
- These system and exposure factors likely drove India's age-standardized death rate up by 21.2 percentage points.
Massive Global Data Synthesis
- The study used data from 204 countries, 47 cancer types, and 44 risk factors via the Global Burden of Disease network.
- This large-scale analysis linked rising absolute cancer cases and deaths to population growth and aging.