Burden of cancer in Africa, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cancer remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with a disproportionately rising burden across Africa. Effective policy responses have been consistently hampered by fragmented and incomplete cancer surveillance data. Using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023, we estimated the burden of 48 cancer types across all 54 African countries over the period 1990 to 2023. These age-disaggregated and sex-disaggregated findings provide a crucial empirical foundation to inform regional control strategies and monitor progress towards global health targets. METHODS: We applied GBD 2023 methodology to estimate fatal and non-fatal outcomes of cancer alongside risk-attributable burden from 88 modifiable risk factors, across all 54 African countries. The estimation of cancer burden attributable to risk factors followed the comparative risk assessment framework. Estimates of incidence, mortality, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were stratified by age, sex, location, and year (1990-2023) and reported as counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population. Mean estimates represent the mean across 250 draws, with 95% uncertainty intervals calculated from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles. FINDINGS: In 2023, cancer, including non-melanoma skin cancer, accounted for an estimated 1·54 million (95% uncertainty interval 1·37-1·75) incident cases, 923 000 (824 000-1 020 000) deaths, and 33·9 million (30·6-37·1) DALYs across all ages and both sexes in Africa, of which 98·2% (97·9-98·3) were attributable to YLLs. In Africa, 10·7 million (8·9-12·9) DALYs and 306 000 (254 000-363 000) cancer deaths in 2023 were attributable to the 88 risk factors assessed in GBD 2023, equivalent to 31·6% (26·8-35·9) of total DALYs and 33·1% (28·7-37·2) of total cancer deaths across all ages and both sexes. Between 1990 and 2023, deaths attributable to risk factors increased by 216·0% (159·3-284·5) for both sexes combined. In 2023, incident cancer cases in females numbered 960 000 (821 000-1 130 000), with breast and cervical cancers together accounting for 53·5% (44·7-62·2) of all female incident cases. In males, prostate, liver, tracheal, bronchus and lung, and colorectal cancers were the leading types, together accounting for 44·8% (36·2-54·3) of all male cancers in Africa in 2023. Childhood cancer (ages 0-19 years) in Africa accounted for 104 000 (84 600-130 000) incident cases and 54 700 (47 500-64 500) deaths, representing 27·7% (26·6-29·4) of global incidence and 38·0% (36·3-40·0) of global deaths in 2023. Cancers in adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39 years) contributed 26·6% (26·4-27·5) of total cancer DALYs in Africa, those in older adults aged 40-64 years contributed 44·8% (43·8-45·6), and those in adults aged 65 years and older contributed 18·3% (17·4-19·1). INTERPRETATION: Cancer is a growing contributor to the disease burden in Africa, with rising cases, deaths, and DALYs disproportionately affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. The increase in age-standardised mortality and DALY rates stands in sharp contrast to the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063. Addressing this burden will require coordinated national and international action, with health-system strengthening and context-specific cancer-control strategies spanning prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. FUNDING: Gates Foundation.
Source: The Lancet Oncology
Authors: Atalel Fentahun Awedew, Sherief Abd-Elsalam, Auwal Abdullahi, Mesfin Abebe, Kedir Hussein Abegaz, Alemwork Abie, Richard Gyan Aboagye, Bilyaminu Abubakar, Rufus Adesoji Adedoyin, Ayman Ahmed, Timothy Olukunle Aladelusi, Mohammed Usman Ali, Hubert Amu, Ganiyu Adeniyi Amusa, Haftu Asmerom, Amlaku Mulat Aweke, Ahmed Y Azzam, Wondu Feyisa Feyisa Balcha, Afisu Basiru, Nebiyou Simegnew Bayleyegn, Bekalu Mekonen Belay, Melesse Belayneh, Alemshet Yirga Berhie, Eyob Ketema Bogale, Souad Bouaoud, Isaac Sunday Chukwu, Bashir Dabo, Robert Kokou Dowou, Temitope Cyrus Ekundayo, Iman El Sayed, Muhammed Elhadi, Mohammed Elshaer, Ibrahim Elsohaby, Destaw Endeshaw, Omotayo Francis Fagbule, Ginenus Fekadu, Bikila Regassa Feyisa, Muktar A Gadanya, Mesfin Gebrehiwot, Genanew K Getahun, Simegnew Asmer Getie, Alem Abera Girmay, Mesay Dechasa Gudeta, Tesfahun Simon Simon Hadaro, Nadia M Hamdy, Ahmed I Hasaballah, Ikrama Hassan, Mohamed Hsairi, Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye, Paul Chukwudi Ikwegbue, Mustapha Immurana, Faisal Ismail, Chidozie Declan Iwu, Alelign Tasew Jema, Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi, Basira Kankia Lawal, Tesfahun Mekene Meto, Hadush Negash Meles, Endalkachew Worku Mengesha, Ahmed Ismail Mohamed, Jama Mohamed, Nouh Saad Mohamed, Shafiu Mohammed, Rawlance Ndejjo, Amanuel Tebabal Nega, Chakib Nejjari, Chukwudi A Nnaji, Chisom Adaobi Nri-Ezedi, Ismail A Odetokun, Akinyemi O D Ofakunrin, Ropo Ebenezer Ogunsakin, Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle, Hany A Omar, Abidemi E Omonisi, Maureene Auma Ondayo, Obinna E Onwujekwe, Mayowa O Owolabi, Oyetunde T Oyeyemi, Nasiru Raheem, Elrashdy M. Redwan, Mohamed A Saleh, Aminu Shittu, Emmanuel Edwar Siddig, Iman M Talaat, Jacques Lukenze Tamuzi, Birhan Tsegaw Taye, Dufera Rikitu Terefa, Wegen Beyene Tesfamariam, Musliu Adetola Tolani, Aniefiok John Udoakang, Shehu Salihu Umar, Gizachew Tadesse Wassie, Zwanden Sule Yahaya, Subah Abderehim Yesuf, Mohammed G M Zeariya, Abdulaziz Mohammed, Ali H Mokdad, Awoke T Misganaw
Institutions: Debre Tabor University, Tanta University, Federal University Wukari, Bayero University Kano, Dilla University, Madda Walabu University, Bahir Dar University, University of Health and Allied Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Khartoum, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Maiduguri, University of Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Haramaya University, October 6 University, American Society for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Healthcare (ASIDE), University of Ilorin, Jimma University, University of South Africa, University Ferhat Abbas of Setif, Federal Medical Centre, University of South Florida, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Alexandria University, Houston Methodist, Korea University, Mansoura University, City University of Hong Kong, Zagazig University, University of Nevada, Reno, Wollega University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Ethiopian Environment Protection Authority, Menelik II Medical and Health Science College, Aksum University, Arba Minch University, Ain Shams University, Al-Azhar University, Federal University Lafia, Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Tunis University, Faculté de médecine de Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, University of Cape Town, Tobruk University, University of Washington, Thomas Adewumi University, Cephas Health Research Initiative, Kaduna State University, Adigrat University, University of Hargeisa, Ahmadu Bello University, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Makerere University, Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Pretoria, Seoul National University, Beni-Suef University, University of Sharjah, Ekiti State University, University of Eldoret, University of Nigeria, King Abdulaziz University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Stellenbosch University, Debre Berhan University, Mekelle University, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, University of Ha'il, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Ethiopian Public Health Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $7,280
Funders: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, City University of Hong Kong, University of Washington, University of South Florida, National Defense Medical College, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Houston Methodist Hospital, Aksum University, Ahmadu Bello University, Beni-Suef University, Wollega University, University of Pretoria, University of New South Wales, Ain Shams University, Seoul National University, Korea University, King Abdulaziz University, Universiteit Stellenbosch, Haramaya University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Jimma University, Bahir Dar University, Zagazig University, University of Cape Town, Tanta University, University of South Africa, University of Hail, Mansoura University, Mekelle University, Alexandria University, University Of Nigeria Nsukka, Adama Science and Technology University, Al-Azhar University, Ekiti State University, Madda Walabu University, Dilla University, Adigrat University, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Directorate for Biological Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Division of Environmental Biology
OpenAlex ID: W7213298640