Liver Cancer Epidemiology
Liver cancer is less common than several other cancers, but it causes a large share of cancer deaths. In 2022, estimates put new cases near 870,000 and deaths near 760,000. It ranked about sixth in incidence and third in cancer mortality worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed late, so survival stays poor.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the main type. Intrahepatic bile-duct cancer makes up a smaller share. Men have higher rates than women in almost every region, often by two to four times. Risk also rises with age, although hepatitis B–related disease can appear earlier.
Geography is uneven. Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, parts of the Pacific, and parts of Africa carry the highest rates. Asia accounts for most cases and deaths. China alone contributes a very large share. Rates are lower in much of Western and South-Central Asia, though the absolute burden still matters in populous countries.
Chronic infection drives most of the global burden. Hepatitis B accounts for about half of liver cancers, and hepatitis C for about one fifth. Aflatoxin exposure adds risk where contaminated grain is common, especially alongside hepatitis B. Alcohol, smoking, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease form the other major group. In North America and Europe, hepatitis C, alcohol, and metabolic disease weigh more heavily. In much of Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B and aflatoxin remain central.
Trends are mixed. Vaccination and antiviral treatment have reduced risk in some younger groups. Even so, case numbers continue to rise because populations are larger and older. Metabolic liver disease is the fastest-growing contributor in several regions. Projections suggest cases and deaths could keep climbing toward 2050 if prevention stalls.
Prevention follows the causes. Hepatitis B vaccination, testing and treatment for hepatitis B and C, aflatoxin control, and lower alcohol and metabolic risk can cut future incidence. Earlier detection in people with cirrhosis also matters. Liver cancer epidemiology is therefore a map of infection, exposure, and metabolic change, not a single disease pattern.