Cancer prevalence
We estimate there are around 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK. This is the figure for 2025. This number refers to complete cancer prevalence, which is everyone alive today who has ever been diagnosed with cancer.
The number of people living with cancer in the UK increased from almost 3 million in 2020 to around 3.5 million in 2025, an increase of around 500,000 people in just 5 years.
We have also produced projections for how many people will be living with cancer in the UK up to the year 2045, through our partnership with Scottish Widows. We estimate that in 2045 there will be almost 5.5 million people living with cancer in the UK.
Cancer prevalence estimates and projections from 2025 to 2045
Together with our partners Scottish Widows, we have produced projections of complete UK cancer prevalence from 2025 to 2045. These projections include 5-year cancer prevalence, which is everyone alive at each point in time who was diagnosed with cancer within the previous 5 years.
The projections are available for each of the four UK nations, for men and women, and for 12 cancer types. They also contain projections for all cancers combined split by age band.
- View detailed data tables for cancer prevalence from 2025 to 2045 (PDF).
- Read our short research report produced in partnership with Scottish Widows.
- Read the detailed methodology for our cancer prevalence projections on the Scottish Widows website.
Why is the number of people living with cancer rising?
There are several reasons why the number of people living with cancer in the UK is increasing. These include:
- The UK population is growing, so there are more people in the UK who can get cancer.
- More people are living to an older age, and age is a major risk factor for cancer, so there are more older people being diagnosed with cancer.
- There have also been increases in the rates of both younger and older people being diagnosed with some types of cancer.
- Gradual improvements in cancer diagnosis and treatment also mean more people with cancer are now living longer after their diagnosis.
Previous cancer prevalence estimates from 2019 to 2025
At Macmillan Cancer Support we produced estimates of complete cancer prevalence split by each of the four UK nations, men and women, and the four most commonly diagnosed cancer types, from 2019 to 2025.
This analysis used a different method to our more recent work in partnership with Scottish Widows, so the figures for 2025 cannot be directly compared.