Skin Cancer
23 January 2026
Introduction
Skin cancer includes non-melanoma and melanoma. It accounted for 3.2% of all new cancer cases in 2023.
Incidence
In 2023, there were 1 198 new cases of skin cancer, with 1 087 cases of non-melanoma and 111 cases of melanoma. The crude incidence rates were 14.4 and 1.5 for non-melanoma and melanoma per 100 000 population respectively. The age-standardised incidence rates* were 6.2 for non-melanoma and 0.7 for melanoma per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of overall skin cancer (both non-melanoma and melanoma) had no significant trend over the past 41 years and over the past 10 years.
The age-standardised incidence rate of non-melanoma had no significant trend over the past 41 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 2014 and 2023: -2.3%).
The age-standardised incidence rate of melanoma had no significant trend over the past 41 years, while an upward trend was observed over the past 10 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 2014 and 2023: 1.0%).
Number of new cases of skin cancer, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of new cases of skin cancer, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Number of crude incidence rate of skin cancer, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of crude incidence rate of skin cancer, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of skin cancer, 1983 to 2023
| Notes : | Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. |
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| * | Age-standardised incidence rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
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| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
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| Sources : | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
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Mortality
In 2024, a total of 72 people died from skin cancer which accounted for 0.5% of all cancer deaths. 32 deaths were due to non-melanoma and 40 deaths were due to melanoma. The crude death rates were 0.4 and 0.5 for non-melanoma and melanoma per 100 000 population respectively. The age-standardised death rates* for non-melanoma and melanoma were 0.2 and 0.2 per 100 000 standard population respectively.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of overall skin cancer (both non-melanoma and melanoma) had no significant trend over the past 44 years and over the past 10 years.
The age-standardised death rate of non-melanoma had a downward trend over the past 44 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1981 and 2023: -1.4%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2015 and 2024: -1.4%).
The age-standardised death rate of melanoma had an upward trend over the past 44 years (AAPC between 1981 and 2024: 2.0%), while no significant trend was observed over the past 10 years.
Number of registered deaths of skin cancer, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths of skin cancer, 2001 to 2024 （View）
Number of crude death rate of skin cancer, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of crude death rate of skin cancer, 2001 to 2024 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of skin cancer, 1981 to 2024
| Notes : | Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. |
|
| * | Age-standardised death rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
|
| # | AAPC of age-standardised death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
|
| Sources : | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
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Skin cancer corresponds to codes 172-173 in ICD-9 and C43-C44 in ICD-10. Melanoma and non-melanoma are C43 in ICD-10 (172 in ICD-9) and C44 in ICD-10 (173 in ICD-9) respectively.
For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.
For health information relating to cancer, please visit the Cancer Online Resource Hub.