Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world, with more than 1.5 million new cases diagnosed globally in 2022. In the United States alone, roughly 1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, making it far more common than breast, lung, or colon cancer. That figure includes all three major types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
The Numbers by Type
Most skin cancers fall into two categories that doctors group together as “non-melanoma” skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These two types account for the vast majority of cases. Basal cell carcinoma is the single most common cancer in humans, with millions of cases treated each year in the U.S. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common. Both grow relatively slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body when caught early, which is why they receive less attention than melanoma despite their enormous numbers.
Melanoma is less common but far more dangerous. An estimated 112,000 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026, and roughly 8,510 people will die from the disease that year. About 2.2% of Americans will receive a melanoma diagnosis at some point in their lives, based on recent data from the National Cancer Institute.
Worldwide Skin Cancer Cases
Globally, more than 1.5 million new skin cancer cases were estimated in 2022, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Of those, about 330,000 were melanoma, and nearly 60,000 people died from melanoma worldwide that year. The remaining cases were basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, which are vastly underreported in cancer registries because they’re so common and so routinely treated that many countries don’t track them the same way they track other cancers.
Countries with high UV exposure and large fair-skinned populations, particularly Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Northern Europe, consistently report the highest rates.
How Survival Depends on Stage
For non-melanoma skin cancers, survival rates are extremely high. The vast majority of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are cured with outpatient procedures, and deaths from these cancers are uncommon.
Melanoma survival depends heavily on how early it’s found. When melanoma is still confined to the skin where it started (stages I and II), the five-year survival rate is 97.6%. Once it spreads to nearby lymph nodes (stage III), that drops to 60.3%. If it reaches distant organs like the lungs, liver, or brain (stage IV), the five-year survival rate falls to 16.2%. This dramatic difference is the main reason dermatologists emphasize regular skin checks and early detection.
Who Gets Skin Cancer
Fair-skinned people face the highest risk by a wide margin. People with lighter skin produce less melanin, the pigment that provides some natural protection against ultraviolet radiation. A history of sunburns, especially blistering sunburns in childhood, increases risk substantially. So does regular use of tanning beds.
That said, skin cancer can and does occur in people of all skin tones. In people with darker skin, melanoma is more likely to appear in areas that get little sun exposure, like the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under fingernails. These cancers tend to be diagnosed at later stages, partly because patients and doctors may not be looking for them in those locations, which contributes to worse outcomes.
Men are diagnosed with melanoma more often than women, and rates rise with age. However, melanoma is also one of the more common cancers in younger adults, particularly women under 50, where it ranks among the top cancers diagnosed.
The Financial Toll
Treating skin cancer costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $8.9 billion per year. That figure, measured in 2018 dollars by the CDC, reflects the sheer volume of cases. Even though each individual non-melanoma skin cancer is relatively inexpensive to treat, millions of procedures per year add up quickly. Melanoma treatment, which can involve surgery, immunotherapy, and ongoing monitoring, drives a disproportionate share of those costs for the number of cases involved.
Why the Numbers Keep Rising
Skin cancer rates have been climbing for decades. Several factors drive the trend. Cumulative sun exposure increases as the population ages, and people who grew up before widespread sunscreen use are now reaching the age when skin cancers typically appear. The popularity of tanning beds in the 1980s and 1990s also contributed to higher melanoma rates in adults today. Better detection plays a role too: more people are getting skin exams, and dermatologists are catching cancers that might have gone unrecorded in earlier decades.
UV radiation from the sun remains the single biggest modifiable risk factor for all three major types of skin cancer. Consistent sunscreen use, protective clothing, and avoiding peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are the most effective ways to reduce your personal risk.