Lung cancer deaths in the UK
In 2025, 27,471 deaths registered in England and Wales had Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung (ICD-10 C33 to C34) as the underlying cause, according to the Office for National Statistics. That was 355 fewer than in 2024 (27,826). It is the lowest yearly figure since 2001.
The ONS table of leading causes of death for 2025 lists 6 causes for all ages over 1; Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung is 5th, with 27,471 deaths, 4.8% of all deaths in that age range.
Deaths each year in England and Wales
Taking account of the population's size and age, the ONS age-standardised death rate was 43.9 per 100,000 people in 2025, 26.5% lower than in 2013 (59.7). For men it was 50.3 and for women 38.8.
In 2025, 14,315 of the deaths were of men and 13,156 of women.
| Year | All | Men | Women | Age-standardised rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27,471 | 14,315 | 13,156 | 43.9 |
| 2024 | 27,826 | 14,415 | 13,411 | 45.3 |
| 2023 | 27,923 | 14,510 | 13,413 | 46.3 |
| 2022 | 28,571 | 14,856 | 13,715 | 48.3 |
| 2021 | 28,190 | 14,801 | 13,389 | 48.6 |
| 2020 | 28,745 | 15,292 | 13,453 | 50.4 |
| 2019 | 29,463 | 15,924 | 13,539 | 52.2 |
| 2018 | 29,626 | 16,070 | 13,556 | 53.6 |
| 2017 | 30,131 | 16,251 | 13,880 | 55.4 |
| 2016 | 30,570 | 16,705 | 13,865 | 57.2 |
| 2015 | 30,520 | 16,572 | 13,948 | 58.0 |
| 2014 | 30,868 | 16,959 | 13,909 | 59.4 |
| 2013 | 30,437 | 16,818 | 13,619 | 59.7 |
| 2012 | 30,273 | 16,698 | 13,575 | – |
| 2011 | 30,148 | 16,881 | 13,267 | – |
| 2010 | 29,977 | 16,807 | 13,170 | – |
| 2009 | 30,018 | 17,053 | 12,965 | – |
| 2008 | 30,326 | 17,233 | 13,093 | – |
| 2007 | 29,660 | 16,961 | 12,699 | – |
| 2006 | 29,332 | 16,974 | 12,358 | – |
| 2005 | 28,691 | 16,791 | 11,900 | – |
| 2004 | 28,320 | 16,870 | 11,450 | – |
| 2003 | 28,749 | 17,141 | 11,608 | – |
| 2002 | 28,888 | 17,494 | 11,394 | – |
| 2001 | 28,850 | 17,667 | 11,183 | – |
Age at death
Of the 27,471 deaths in 2025 with an age recorded, 55.4% were of people aged 75 or over; the largest number, 10,544, was in the 75 to 84 age group.
| Age | 2025: all | 2025: men | 2025: women | 2001: all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 to 44 | 179 | 106 | 73 | 240 |
| 45 to 64 | 4,332 | 2,360 | 1,972 | 6,299 |
| 65 to 74 | 7,729 | 4,073 | 3,656 | 9,434 |
| 75 to 84 | 10,544 | 5,411 | 5,133 | 10,058 |
| 85 and over | 4,687 | 2,365 | 2,322 | 2,819 |
Scotland
National Records of Scotland recorded 3,652 deaths from this cause in 2024 (1,765 men, 1,887 women). In 2011 the figure was 4,178.
| Year | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,652 | 1,765 | 1,887 |
| 2023 | 3,778 | 1,851 | 1,927 |
| 2022 | 3,925 | 1,956 | 1,969 |
| 2021 | 3,959 | 1,970 | 1,989 |
| 2020 | 3,874 | 1,938 | 1,936 |
| 2019 | 4,095 | 2,043 | 2,052 |
| 2018 | 3,980 | 1,981 | 1,999 |
| 2017 | 4,069 | 2,036 | 2,033 |
| 2016 | 4,035 | 2,081 | 1,954 |
| 2015 | 4,047 | 2,075 | 1,972 |
| 2014 | 4,117 | 2,119 | 1,998 |
| 2013 | 4,120 | 2,127 | 1,993 |
| 2012 | 4,189 | 2,094 | 2,095 |
| 2011 | 4,178 | 2,200 | 1,978 |
Northern Ireland
NISRA's Registrar General figures give 948 deaths from this cause registered in Northern Ireland in 2024, against 978 in 2014.
| Year | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 948 | 511 | 437 |
| 2023 | 989 | 542 | 447 |
| 2022 | 1,012 | 536 | 476 |
| 2021 | 1,017 | 522 | 495 |
| 2020 | 1,053 | 577 | 476 |
| 2019 | 1,039 | 541 | 498 |
| 2018 | 1,037 | 560 | 477 |
| 2017 | 1,022 | 559 | 463 |
| 2016 | 1,083 | 571 | 512 |
| 2015 | 990 | 551 | 439 |
| 2014 | 978 | 524 | 454 |
NHS figures for England
New cancer cases (England)
OHID's Fingertips tool gives “Lung cancer registrations” as 77.1 per 100,000 in England for 2017 - 19, covering 119,263 new cases. The first figure in the series, for 2007 - 09, was 77.7 per 100,000.
| Period | per 100,000 | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 19 | 77.1 per 100,000 | 119,263 |
| 2016 - 18 | 77.9 per 100,000 | 118,019 |
| 2015 - 17 | 76.8 per 100,000 | 114,150 |
| 2014 - 16 | 77.8 per 100,000 | 113,441 |
| 2013 - 15 | 78.3 per 100,000 | 111,998 |
| 2012 - 14 | 79.1 per 100,000 | 110,983 |
| 2011 - 13 | 79.1 per 100,000 | 108,766 |
| 2010 - 12 | 78.6 per 100,000 | 106,022 |
| 2009 - 11 | 77.7 per 100,000 | 102,891 |
| 2008 - 10 | 77.8 per 100,000 | 101,299 |
| 2007 - 09 | 77.7 per 100,000 | 99,424 |
Source: OHID Fingertips, indicator 1205 (NHS England) · data read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256 1982103c334cfe4c…
How the figures are defined
Each death is counted once, under its underlying cause: the disease or injury that started the chain of events leading to death, as certified by a doctor or coroner and coded by the ONS to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). This page uses the ONS grouping “Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung”, codes C33 to C34. Other conditions mentioned on a death certificate are not counted here.
Registration dates, the deaths left out, the age-standardised rate and the ONS's coding changes are explained under how these figures are compiled.
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More in cancer
Sources and receipts
ONS mortality extracts for codes C33 to C34, with SHA-256 fingerprints; the ONS, NRS and NISRA workbooks are listed with the other sources.
- Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
d35d2f7385ab1bce…· publisher's page - Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
858d15e0ca75abc9…· publisher's page
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