Prostate Cancer Incidence

Introduction

In 2022, 5% of prostate cancer cases were diagnosed among men aged 45 to 54, 52% among men aged 55 to 69, and 43% among men aged 70 or older.

From 2003 to 2022, prostate cancer incidence was highest among men aged 70 years or older (Figure 1). Among all men 45 years or older, prostate cancer incidence went down from 2007 to 2014 and went up from 2014 to 2022. This increase was driven by diagnoses in men 70 years or older; recent rates have been stable among younger men. The exception is in 2020, when disruptions in cancer screening, diagnosis, and care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lower prostate cancer rates.^c After 2020, prostate cancer rates returned to or are above their pre-pandemic levels.

Figure 1. Trends in prostate cancer incidence^a,b by age group, United States, 2003–2022^d

Note: Lines depict modeled rates (trend line). Observed rates are available in the data table.

Incidence by age group and stage at diagnosis

This analysis used SEER Summary Stage to code stage at diagnosis as localized, regional, distant, or unknown:

• Localized cancer is confined to the primary site.
• Regional cancer has spread directly beyond the primary site (regional extension) or to regional lymph nodes.
• Distant cancer has spread to other organs (distant extension) or remote lymph nodes.
• Some cancers are unstaged or the stage is unknown or unspecified.

In 2022, 70% of prostate cancer cases were found at a localized stage, 14% at a regional stage, 9% at a distant stage, and 7% at an unknown stage.

Across all age groups, from 2003 to 2022, most prostate cancers were diagnosed at the localized stage (Figure 2). Localized prostate cancer incidence was lower in 2022 than in 2003. Changes in trend during this period were not significant. The highest rates of localized prostate cancer were among men 70 years or older. During recent years, prostate cancer at the localized stage has increased among men 70 years or older but has remained about the same among younger men. Prostate cancer diagnosed at the distant stage went up from 2003 through 2022 among all ages.

Some changes in incidence by stage may correspond to changes in the staging schema, screening recommendations, and use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

Figure 2. Trends in prostate cancer incidence^{a b} by age group and stage at diagnosis, United States, 2003−2022^d

Note: Lines depict modeled rates (trend line). Observed rates are available in the data table.

Incidence by race and ethnicity and stage at diagnosis

In 2022, 70% of prostate cancer cases in the United States were diagnosed in non-Hispanic White men, 16% in non-Hispanic Black men, 8% in Hispanic men, 3% in non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander men, and fewer than 1% in non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native men.

From 2008 to 2014, prostate cancer rates decreased for all racial and ethnic groups at the localized stage. From 2014 to 2022, localized rates went up for non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander men, went down for Hispanic men, and remained stable for other men (Figure 3). At the distant stage, incidence rates went up for all racial and ethnic groups from 2011 to 2022. At all stages of diagnosis, non-Hispanic Black men had the highest incidence, while non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander men had the lowest incidence.

Figure 3. Trends in prostate cancer incidence^{a b} by stage at diagnosis and racial and ethnic group, United States, 2003–2022^d

Note: Lines depict modeled rates (trend line). Observed rates are available in the data table.

Screening recommendations

In 2018, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its prostate cancer screening recommendations. The USPSTF recommends that men who are 55 to 69 years talk with their doctor about the possible benefits and harms of being screened for prostate cancer with a PSA test. The USPSTF recommends against PSA screening for prostate cancer in men 70 years or older.

Data source

Data in this brief come 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, the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, or both programs and have met high-quality data criteria for data submitted in 2024, covering 100% of the U.S. population.

Footnotes

^aThe 1,994 cases reported from death certificate and autopsy only cases do not include information about stage at diagnosis and therefore are not included in this analysis.

^bRates are per 100,000 standard male population and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

^cSherman RL, Firth AU, Henley SJ, et al. Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, featuring state-level statistics after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer. 2025;131(9):e35833.

^dThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services, leading to delays and reductions in cancer screening and diagnosis, which may have contributed to lower incidence for most cancer sites in 2020. The 2020 data point was not included in calculation of trends. For more information, see Impact of COVID-19 on SEER Data Releases.