Overview

• Researchers extrapolate approximately 1.56 million new cancer cases and 874,000 deaths in India for 2024 from 43 population-based registries.
• Oral cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer among men, with increases documented in 14 registries for men and four for women.
• Women account for 51.1% of recorded cases but 45% of deaths, a pattern experts link to earlier detection and better outcomes for breast and cervical cancers.
• Mizoram shows the highest lifetime risk at 21.1% for men and 18.9% for women, and Aizawl records the highest overall incidence for both sexes.
• Coverage limitations remain as registries span 23 states and Union Territories and monitor roughly 10%–18% of the population, with 2020 data excluded due to Covid disruptions.