Widening inequality in cancer mortality between deprivation groups – Scotland

Peter Hastie, External Affairs Manager Scotland at Macmillan Cancer Support said:

“It is deeply concerning that too many people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland continue to experience poorer cancer outcomes. No one’s postcode or background should determine the care they receive or their chances of survival. Everyone deserves the best possible cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live.

“To tackle these unfair inequities, all routinely published cancer data should include a breakdown for deprivation as standard. This would give a clearer picture of where people are getting left behind and help drive action to ensure everyone receives high-quality cancer care.”

Source: Public Health Scotland. Cancer mortality. Accessed July 2026

• People who live in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland have a 74% higher risk of dying of cancer than people who live in the 20% least deprived areas[i]
• People with ‘Trachea, bronchus and lung’ cancer in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland are around 3.5 times more likely to die of the same cancer type than people who live in the 20% least deprived areas[ii]
• Today's data also shows that while the risk of dying from cancer is reducing in both the most and least deprived areas of Scotland, the risk is reducing at a slower rate in the most deprived areas, meaning the gap between the two is getting bigger and inequity is getting worse.

[i] Public Health Scotland. Cancer mortality. Accessed July 2026. Refers to European Age Standardised Rate (EASR) of cancer mortality for 2020-2024 period. Deprivation based on Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

[ii] Same as above