Childhood cancer statistics in Australia

Understanding the numbers

Childhood cancer survival rates have significantly improved in recent decades. In 2024, it is estimated that 760 children aged 0–14 years will be diagnosed with cancer in Australia.¹

Childhood cancer incidence

An estimated 760 children aged 0-14 years old were diagnosed with cancer in 2024, corresponding to an age-specific rate of 15.6 cases per 100,000 children.¹

In 2020, the three most common types of childhood cancer were acute lymphoid leukaemia (24%), astrocytoma (10%) and neuroblastoma (6%).²

Almost half (48%) of all children diagnosed with cancer in Australia in 2020 were aged 0-4 years old at diagnosis.¹

In 2020, Australia was estimated to have the sixth highest incidence rate of childhood cancers among countries in the G20, following Italy, Canada, Turkey, Germany and the United States.²

Childhood cancer survival and mortality

Childhood cancer survival rates have significantly improved in recent decades. However, survival rates do vary greatly depending on the type of cancer diagnosed.

In 2022, 93 cancer deaths of children aged 0–14 in Australia (45 boys and 48 girls) were reported according to the National Mortality Database (NMD).¹ During this year (2024), the leading causes of cancer death in children aged 0–14 were brain cancer (34 children) and leukaemia (25 children).¹

From 1972-2022, the child mortality rates decreased from 7.0 deaths per 100,000 children to 2.0 deaths per 100,000 children.¹ In 1972, the number of cancer deaths of children aged 0-14 was 266, compared to 93 in 2022.¹

Supportive care services for children, young adults, and their families

Cancer Council 13 11 20 is equipped to provide specialist cancer information and support services related to childhood cancers. Of the 55,000 calls received per year Australia-wide, over 850 enquiries per year pertain specifically to childhood cancer enquiries.

Online peer support groups are available nationwide for children, adolescents, siblings and families, either conducted by Cancer Council or referred to other specialist childhood cancer organisations.

Cancer in the School community, an additional key evidence-based written document is available nationwide.

Financial assistance services (FAS) are available for families affected by cancer. Contact your local Cancer Council for details.

For a wide range of free services and programs tailored to young people's individual cancer experience, you can head to Canteen Australia.

Sources

[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Cancer data in Australia [Internet]. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024 [cited 2024 Sept 11]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-data-in-australia

[2] Currell, Anne & Henshaw, Chloe. “A Summary of Childhood Cancer Statistics in Australia, 1983-2020". Cancer Council Queensland, June 2023. Available from: https://cancerqld.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23076_ACCR_Statistics_Summary_final.pdf