Last updated on 16 March 2009

This site presents the number of cases and deaths by cancer in European countries. So as to take into account the number of inhabitants in each country each year, these numbers of cases and deaths have been transformed into incidence rates and mortality rates per 100,000 persons. These rates are adjusted on the standard European population age rate (European Standard Rate [ESR]), and consequently, the differences between the age adjusted rates are not due to different age structures.

The data presented on the site are those made publicly available by cancer registries and by national statistics agencies.

The data on cancer cases are derived from data used for volumes I to VIII of the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Series of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Data on mortality by cancer are derived from World Health Organization (WHO) data. Detailed information on incidence and mortality, available by country, and the populations covered by the cancer registries is available under the “Analysis” tab.

The data presented on the site are regularly updated, according to the information transmitted to IARC by cancer registries and to the WHO by national statistics agencies.

LInformation on the technical use of the data on incidence and mortality by cancer presented on the site is available under the “About ECO” tab.

Suggested citation format to use when referencing any material taken from this site

ECO/OEC. European Cancer Observatory, Observatoire Européen du Cancer. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 2009 (http://eu-cancer.iarc.fr, last accessed on/dernière visite le: day/month/year:jour/mois/année).

Data source

Ferlay J, Autier P, Boniol M, Heanue M, Colombet M, Boyle P. Estimates of the cancer incidence and mortality in Europe in 2006. Ann Oncol 2007;18:581-92

Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Storm H. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. I to VIII IARC CancerBase No. 7, Lyon, 2005.

World Health Organization. WHO Statistical Information System. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Databank. http://www.who.int/whosis. (December 2008, date last accessed).