Cancer in Victoria 2024

Victoria is home to one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse populations in Australia. According to the 2021 Census, 31.7% of the state’s 6.5 million residents were born overseas, with around 62% coming from countries where English is not the main language. Migration from countries such as India, Nepal, and the Philippines has increased significantly in recent years.

The overseas-born population has grown faster than the Australian-born population, with a 26.5% rise between 2001 and 2024. The median age of overseas-born Australians is 45, compared to 34 for those born in Australia. Many arrive in good health due to immigration eligibility criteria, but this “healthy migrant effect” can diminish over time due to lifestyle changes and barriers to accessing healthcare.

As many overseas-born residents are now at, or nearing, cancer screening age, cancer risk is expected to grow in this group. Migrating to a new country can bring challenges, including language barriers, unfamiliar health systems, and limited support networks. All of these factors may make it harder to engage with cancer prevention, screening, and treatment services.

A snapshot of cancer in Victorians born overseas

Overall cancer incidence is lower in many overseas-born groups

• Victorians born in Southern Europe, Mainland South-East Asia, Southern Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa had significantly lower overall cancer incidence compared to Australian-born populations.

Certain cancers are disproportionately higher in specific communities

• Liver cancer was 3.5 times higher in Mainland South-East Asian-born individuals.

• Gallbladder cancer was over 3 times higher in Oceania-born people (excluding Australia & New Zealand).

• Thyroid cancer was 2.7 times higher in Filipino-born females.

• Pancreas, stomach, and bladder cancer were more common in Southern European-born Victorians.

Late-stage diagnosis affects specific migrant groups

• Bowel cancer is more among South-East Asian-born and Eastern European-born individuals.

• Breast cancer is more common in females from Central Asia, Oceania (excluding Australia & New Zealand), the Middle East, and Eastern/South Eastern Europe.

• Melanoma is more in people born in Oceania (excluding Australia & New Zealand), Central/South America, and parts of Europe.

Infection-associated cancers

• Infection-associated cancers vary widely by country of birth.

• Hepatitis B-associated liver cancer was 3–4 times more common in people born in Viet Nam, China, and surrounding regions.

• HPV-related cancers were significantly lower in many South and South-East Asian groups.

• HHV-8-associated cancers were over 30 times more common in Greek- and Italian-born populations

Cancer survival was similar or better in many groups

• Notably improved survival was seen in Vietnamese- and Chinese-born patients for liver and lung cancers, and in New Zealand-born females for pancreatic cancer.

Disparities persist in some cancers and populations

• Higher risk of early death was observed for uterine cancer in Oceania-born females (excluding Australia & New Zealand) and breast cancer in US/Canadian-born females.

In 2024, 39,641 Victorians were diagnosed with cancer, averaging 109 new cases each day. Males accounted for 55 per cent of diagnoses and females for 45 per cent. A total of 730 people were diagnosed with more than one primary tumour, contributing to 40,384 new cancers registered for the year. The age-standardised incidence rate was 482 cases per 100,000.

Overall diagnoses increased from 2023, driven by population growth and ageing, even as the age-standardised rate remained slightly lower. This marks the highest number of cancers ever recorded in Victoria and reflects the continued return to expected activity following disruptions during the COVID-19 period.

Victoria is the first jurisdiction to release 2024 incidence data, providing an early benchmark for cancer trends nationally. The most common cancers were prostate, breast, bowel, melanoma and lung. Early-onset cancers accounted for 11 per cent of diagnoses. Ongoing monitoring remains essential as diagnostic patterns continue to stabilise.

A snapshot of new cancer diagnoses in Victoria in 2025

• 109 Victorians are diagnosed with cancer every day.
• For every 100 females diagnosed with cancer, there are 122 males diagnosed.
• Victoria recorded its highest-ever number of new cancer diagnoses in 2024.
• The most common cancers in Victoria are cancers of the prostate, breast, bowel, lung, and melanoma. These cancers account for 56% of all diagnoses in Victoria.
• Blood cancers account for 12% of the estimated 40,384 new cancer diagnoses in Victoria in 2024.
• Aboriginal Victorians are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer than non-Aboriginal Victorians.
• Melanoma diagnoses in regional Victoria are 51% higher than in major cities.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Victoria in 2024, responsible for 27% of all deaths and claiming 11,969 lives, or 33 deaths per day. Mortality rates continue their long-term decline, with the age-standardised rate decreasing by 1.6% per year over the past 29 years, reflecting sustained improvements in prevention, detection, and treatment. Despite this, the absolute number of deaths is rising due to population growth and ageing.

Lung, bowel, pancreas, prostate, and breast cancers together account for half of all cancer deaths, and cancer caused more than 176,000 years of potential life lost in 2024, with lung and bowel cancers the largest contributors in both sexes. Mortality is heavily concentrated in older Australians, with only 2.4% of cancer deaths occurring in people under 45.

Significant inequities persist. Aboriginal Victorians are 3.4 times more likely to die from cancer than non-Aboriginal Victorians and face markedly higher mortality across many cancer types, including liver, lung, prostate, and bowel cancers. These disparities highlight the urgent need for targeted, culturally safe cancer care and improved access to early detection and treatment.

A snapshot of cancer mortality in Victoria in 2024

• 33 Victorians die from cancer every day.
• For every 100 females who die from cancer, there are 126 male deaths.
• In the last 10 years, the cancer mortality rate has declined 1.7% per year in men and has declined 1.4% per year in women.
• Aboriginal Victorians are 3.4 times more likely to die from cancer than non-Aboriginal Victorians.
• The leading causes of cancer death are cancers of the lung, bowel, pancreas, prostate and breast, which together account for 50% of all deaths.

Cancer survival in Victoria continues to improve, with five-year relative survival now at 74% for females and 72% for males, a substantial rise from 54% and 41% respectively in the late 1980s. Across all cancers, five-year survival has increased 43% over the past 30 years, driven largely by earlier detection, screening programs, targeted therapies, and better multidisciplinary care. Survival varies widely by cancer type, ranging from 98% for testicular cancer to 12% for mesothelioma.

Survival improvements are evident across all age groups, though survival decreases with advancing age. The gap is largest for cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, while melanoma shows only minor age-related differences. Conditional survival also improves markedly with time survived, rising from 86% after the first year post-diagnosis to 98% after five years.

Persistent inequities remain. Aboriginal Victorians experience a five-year survival rate of 59%, compared with 73% for non-Aboriginal Victorians, with the disparity most pronounced in middle age groups. Regional Victorians also have lower survival than metropolitan residents (71% vs 74%). These findings emphasise the need for culturally safe care, improved access to treatment, and strengthened rural cancer services.

A snapshot of cancer survival in Victoria in 2023:

• The five-year survival rate for Victorians diagnosed with cancer has increased 43% over the past 30 years.
• Across all cancers, the five-year survival rate is 74% for females and 72% for males.
• Survival rates vary significantly across cancer types and are also impacted by factors such as age, geographic location of residence, and the cancer stage at time of diagnosis.
• Victorians who survive four years after a cancer diagnosis have a high likelihood of reaching five-year survival across most cancer types

Cancer prevalence refers to the number of people alive who have previously been diagnosed with cancer. It reflects the relationship between how many people are diagnosed and how many survive, and is influenced by factors such as cancer stage at diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment.

Prevalence data helps us understand the long-term impact of cancer on individuals and the health system. Many survivors continue to face physical, psychological, and financial challenges, highlighting the growing need for ongoing support services.

Tracking prevalence helps plan for future care needs and ensure that health services meet the complex needs of cancer survivors in Victoria.

A snapshot of cancer prevalence in Victoria in 2024:

• An estimated 137,541 Victorians are alive after a cancer diagnosis in the past five years, and 227,865 Victorians are alive after a cancer diagnosis in the past 10 years.
• 379,067 Victorians who are alive today have been diagnosed with cancer in the last four decades.
• The proportion of Victorians alive after a cancer diagnosis in the previous five years has more than doubled in the last 35 years.
• The most prevalent cancer for Victorian men aged 50 and over is prostate cancer.
• The most prevalent cancer for Victorian women aged 50 and over is breast cancer.

Victoria’s population continues to grow and age, reaching an estimated 6.95 million people in 2024, an increase of 2.3% from the previous year. Most Victorians live in major cities, and population growth since the early 1980s means the Victorian Cancer Registry now serves a population 74% larger than when full population coverage began. The state’s age profile is shifting, with steady increases in the proportion of residents aged 60 and over across both males and females. 

Aboriginal Victorians represent about 1.2% of the population and form one of the fastest-growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia. This group has a median age of 24.6 years and is supported by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, which plays a key role in culturally safe care. 

Victoria is also highly multicultural, with 32% of residents born overseas and 30% of households speaking a language other than English. The largest overseas-born communities come from India, England, and China. Life expectancy continues to rise, reaching 81.5 years for males and 85.4 years for females. These demographic trends shape future cancer patterns, care needs, and service planning across the state.

A snapshot of Victoria's population in 2024

• Victoria’s population is growing and ageing.
• Aboriginal Victorians represent 1.2% of the state’s population.
• About one in three Victorians are born overseas.