Incidence and mortality estimates
The ECIS web application displays national incidence and mortality estimates for the year 2022 for several cancer entities in countries from the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), as defined by the United Nations Definition of Regions. Russia and Belarus are excluded, compliant to the EU position about suspension of the scientific cooperation with the Russian Federation.
Incidence and mortality estimates are the joint outcome of a collaborative project of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) and the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR).
The incidence estimates in 2022 for the European countries are based on the data from the cancer registries participating in the data call of IARC Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, volume XII. The mortality data are extracted from WHO mortality database, unless otherwise specified.
The list of cancer entities and corresponding definitions used in the 2022 estimates is available here.
A standard methodology was applied to bridge a potential lack of data in the estimation of comparable cancer burden indicators across cancer entities and countries. The process applied in the estimates' calculation for the year 2020 has been published in Dyba et al., 2021; the description of the revised methodology for the year 2022 is available here.
The estimates reported in ECIS may differ from those provided by national bodies because of possible differences in the methodology and data sources. Estimates have been computed from the recorded data provided by the cancer registries and administrative sources. The values should be interpreted with caution, as they are the result of an estimation process and do not correspond to any recorded value. It has to be noted that the variations of estimates across countries is influenced by a number of factors, including different levels of primary prevention and care, population-based screening, data registration coverage, as well as the methods used for estimation.
Long-term estimates
ECIS displays long-term estimates of incidence and mortality in countries from the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) for the years 2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040.
The long-term estimates are based on the projected 2022 incidence and mortality rates and the projected populations up to year 2040 from EUROSTAT. The projected populations are available for EU and EFTA countries and for six different demographic scenarios covering possible fertility, mortality, and migration developments: i) Lower fertility - fertility rates 20% lower; ii) Lower mortality - life expectancy at birth +2 years by 2070; iii) Lower migration - net migration -33%; iv) Higher migration - net migration +33%; and v) No migration - net migration set to 0.
The long-term estimates are computed to evaluate the impact of population ageing in these European countries, under the assumption that 2022 cancer incidence and mortality levels remain constant in the coming decades.
The list of cancer entities and corresponding definitions used in the long-term estimates - the same as those defined for 2022 estimates - is available here.
The long-term estimates should be interpreted with caution. They assume that estimated 2022 incidence and mortality rates remain stable up to 2040, thus reflecting only changes in population. This assumption is probably not realistic, as incidence and mortality rates are strongly affected by factors evolving in time, such as prevalence and distribution of cancer risk factors, establishment of cancer control plans, implementation of screening programs and others. For such reason, long-term estimates express only the strong impact of population ageing on the cancer burden in these European countries over the next decades.
Historical incidence and mortality
ECIS historical incidence data are provided by population-based cancer registries affiliated to the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR). ECIS Historical mortality data - provided by the same cancer registres or retrieved from EUROSTAT - derive from official statistical offices.
The ECIS web application includes incidence and mortality indicators - by cancer entity, sex, age group, calendar period, and geographic area - computed from data submitted by 128 population-based cancer registries from 32 European countries by March 2025. These indicators are produced in close collaboration with ENCR registries and their representative body, the ENCR Steering Committee.
Here is available the list of cancer registries contributing to ECIS and the corresponding incidence and mortality time period.
Here is available the list of cancer entities and corresponding definitions.
Historical childhood incidence
ECIS includes incidence indicators for the childhood population in European countries, computed on data are provided by childhood population-based cancer registries affiliated to the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR). These indicators are visualised by diagnostic group - according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, age group, calendar period, and geographic area.
The ECIS web application includes childhood incidence indicators from data submitted by 107 all-ages and six childhood-specific registries from 30 European countries. These indicators are produced in close collaboration with the cancer registries affiliated to the ENCR and their representative body, the ENCR Steering Committee.
Here is available the list of childhood cancer registries contributing to ECIS and the corresponding incidence time period.
The list of diagnostic groups used, based on ICCC, is available here.
The EUROCARE study
The EUROpean CAncer REgistry (EUROCARE) project is the widest collaborative research project on population-based cancer survival and prevalence in Europe. The aim of the EUROCARE project is to provide an updated description of cancer survival time trends and differences across European countries, measure cancer prevalence, and project patterns of care of cancer patients.
Survival (EUROCARE-5)
Survival estimates displayed in ECIS derive from the EUROCARE-5 project, reporting on cancer survival in Europe in 1999–2007. Overall, the EUROCARE-5 project includes data on more than 21 million cancer diagnoses provided by 99 cancer registries in 26 European countries.
The list of cancer registries participating in the EUROCARE-5 survival project is available here.
The list of cancer entities and corresponding definitions used in the EUROCARE-5 survival project is available here.
Prevalence (EUROCARE-6)
Prevalence estimates displayed in ECIS derive from the EUROCARE-6 project, reporting on cancer prevalence in Europe to 2020. Overall, the EUROCARE-6 project includes data on about 28 million cancer diagnoses provided by 117 Cancer Registries in 31 European countries.
The list of cancer registries participating in the EUROCARE-6 prevalence project is available here.
The list of cancer entities and corresponding definitions used in the EUROCARE-6 prevalence project is available here.
A description of data and methods used for prevalence estimations is available here.