Cancer in Ireland

Cancer is a major public health issue and is the leading cause of death in adults in Ireland, with an estimated 1 in 2 individuals expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. As the Irish population grows and ages, the number of people diagnosed with invasive cancer every year is expected to grow by between 50% and 100% over the 30-year period from 2015 to 2045. NCRI's comprehensive cancer data provides vital statistics and insights to inform research, enhance public health initiatives, and improve patient outcomes across Ireland.

Statistics from NCRI's most recent report

24,207
Invasive tumours xNMSC per year
9,797
Deaths per year
1 in 2
Lifetime risk

Most common

Prostate
Breast
Lung
Colorectal

: Men
Prostate: 32%
Colorectal: 11%
Lung: 10%

: Women
Breast: 32%
Lung: 11%
Colorectal: 9%

Deaths in Ireland

Top causes of death as per recent report

Lung
Breast
Colorectal
Prostate

: Men
Lung: 21%
Prostate: 12%
Colorectal: 11%

: Women
Lung: 20%
Breast: 17%
Colorectal: 10%

Covid - 19 Impact Report | 2025

2025

No consistent rise in late-stage cancers

was observed following the pandemic

Survival rates for all cancer sites

in 2020–2021 remained in line with previous years

Cancer diagnoses did drop sharply (27%) in early 2020

as Covid-19 disrupted health services

The health system reconfigured quickly during the pandemic and recovered quickly

By 2022 the number of diagnosed cases had returned to expected levels

2025

More about this report

Tobacco-Related Cancers Report | 2025

1994-2022

people each day were diagnosed with a cancer

caused by tobacco-smoking

In 2022, tobacco-smoking caused over

3,750

cases of cancer

The risk of developing cancer due to tobacco smoking varies according to the cancer type

The risk of developing cancer due to tobacco smoking is greatest for cancers of the lung and voice box, food pipe, throat and bladder

The incidence rate of most tobacco-related cancers is decreasing or stabilising

The mortality rate of most tobacco-related cancers is decreasing or stabilising

Tobacco-related cancers are, in general, more common among men

Tobacco-smoking increases the risk of 3 types of cancer specific to women

-breast cancer, cervical cancer and an uncommon type of ovarian cancer

Tobacco-related cancers are more common among those living in areas with greater social disadvantage