Lung Cancer
23 January 2026
Introduction
Lung cancer was the commonest cancer in Hong Kong. It accounted for 16.1% of new cancer cases in 2023.
Incidence
In 2023, there were 6 111 new cases of lung cancer, with 3 576 male cases and 2 535 female cases. The male to female ratio of incidence was about 1.4 to 1. The crude incidence rates of lung cancer were 104.1 for males and 61.8 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of lung cancer were 44.4 for males and 28.3 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of both sexes had a downward trend over the past 41 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1983 and 2023: -1.4%), while no significant trend was observed over the past 10 years.
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of males had a downward trend over the past 41 years (AAPC between 1983 and 2023: -1.8%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: -1.3%).
The age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer of females had a downward trend over the past 41 years (AAPC between 1983 and 2023: -0.7%), but an upward trend over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: 1.7%).
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of lung cancer by sex, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of lung cancer by sex, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of lung cancer by sex, 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
Lung cancer was the first leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2024, a total of 3 935 people died from this cancer, accounting for 26.1% of all cancer deaths. The crude death rates of lung cancer were 74.5 for males and 33.8 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of lung cancer were 29.0 for males and 12.9 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of lung cancer of both sexes, males and females all had a downward trend over the past 44 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1981 and 2024: -1.7%, -1.7% and -1.5% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2015 and 2024: -3.3%, -3.1% and -2.0% respectively).
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of lung cancer by sex, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of lung cancer by sex, 2001 to 2024 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of lung cancer by sex, 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. |
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| Sources : | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
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Lung cancer corresponds to codes 162 in ICD-9 and C33-C34 in ICD-10.
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.