What to know
Based on the most recent data available, in the United States in 2021, 209,500 new lung cancers were reported and in 2022, 131,888 people died from lung cancer.
Incidence and death rates, by sex
Males had higher rates than females of getting and dying from lung cancer.
Stage distribution
From 2017 to 2021, nearly half of all lung cancers were diagnosed at a distant stage, meaning the cancer had spread from the lungs to distant parts of the body. More than one-fourth of lung cancers were found at a localized stage (the cancer had not spread outside the lungs) and less than one-fourth at a regional stage (the cancer had spread from the lungs to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, or organs).
5-year relative survival
Overall, 28% of lung cancer patients had not died from their cancer 5 years later. However, survival varied by stage at diagnosis.
Most lung cancers are found after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, when survival is lowest. Lung cancer screening can find cancer earlier, when treatment works better. Lung cancer screening is recommended for people who are at high risk because of their smoking history and age.
5-year limited duration prevalence
Among people diagnosed with lung cancer from 2016 to 2020, 438,655 were still alive on January 1, 2021.
Impact of COVID-19
Resource
Data sources
Data are from U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics.
U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data are from population-based registries that participate in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, or both programs and that met high-quality data criteria for data submitted in 2023, covering 98% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics death data are from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System and cover 100% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics survival and prevalence data are from 43 NPCR registries that met high-quality data criteria for the 2023 data submission and conducted linkage with the National Death Index and/or active patient follow-up, covering 92% of the U.S. population. Five-year relative survival estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2014 to 2020. Five-year limited-duration prevalence estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2016 to 2020.