Greece’s cancer death toll is projected to climb sharply over the next 25 years, according to new projections from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Cancer deaths in the country could rise from about 32,000 in 2024 to nearly 40,000 by 2050. That marks an increase of almost 25 percent.
Lung cancer remains the deadliest form in Greece today. It caused 7,174 deaths in 2024, more than any other cancer type. That is more than double the deaths linked to colorectal cancer, the second leading cause.
Lung cancer deaths in Greece are projected to keep rising, too, reaching roughly 8,530 by 2050 and likely remaining the deadliest form of cancer.
Lung cancer still kills the most, prostate cancer rising fastest
Prostate cancer shows the steepest rise among major cancers. Deaths linked to prostate cancer are projected to nearly double, climbing from 1,951 in 2024 to 2,918 in 2050, a jump of almost 50 percent with the fastest growth rate of any leading cancer type.
Colorectal cancer deaths are likewise expected to rise quickly. Researchers project an increase of almost 31 percent from 3,503 deaths in 2024 to 4,583 by 2050.
New cancer cases in Greece are expected to go up, too, although at a slower pace than deaths. New diagnoses are projected to grow by about 11 percent from 63,549 in 2024 to 70,452 in 2050.
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Greeks overall. Lung and prostate cancers follow closely behind in new case numbers.
Greece’s cancer death toll set to keep climbing
The projections point to one main driver behind the rising figures: an aging population. Greece’s overall population is expected to shrink over the same period, dropping from about 10 million to 8.8 million, while the percent of older residents will surge.
Cancer risk increases sharply with age, meaning a growing elderly population will lead to more cancer cases and deaths overall, despite individual risk potentially remaining unchanged.
Without new prevention or treatment gains, Greece’s death toll from cancer could keep rising well past current levels. The findings come from IARC’s Cancer Tomorrow research and are based on Globocan 2024 data.
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