Liver cancer occurs when liver cells grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. The liver, located in the upper right abdomen, performs many functions, including filtering blood and producing bile. Understanding these statistics provides a comprehensive overview of its impact on public health, tracking prevalence and the effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies.
Understanding New Diagnoses
The incidence of liver cancer, or the rate of new diagnoses, has shown a notable increase over recent decades. In the United States, for example, liver cancer cases have more than tripled since 1980. For 2025, approximately 42,240 new cases of primary liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer are projected in the U.S., with about 28,220 in men and 14,020 in women.
The age-standardized incidence rate for liver cancer in the U.S. increased from 2.641 per 100,000 person-years in 1975 to 8.657 per 100,000 person-years in 2017. Between 2011 and 2016, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rates, the most common type of liver cancer, showed a slight decline of 1.9%. However, rates for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), another type of liver cancer, continued to increase during the same period.
Mortality Trends
Liver cancer mortality rates, reflecting the number of deaths from the disease, have also seen a concerning rise. Since the mid-1980s, the liver cancer mortality rate in the United States has doubled. For 2025, an estimated 30,090 people in the U.S. are projected to die from primary liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (19,250 men, 10,840 women).
Between 2000 and 2016, the age-adjusted death rates for liver cancer in adults aged 25 and over increased by 43%, from 7.2 to 10.3 per 100,000 U.S. standard population. This increase was observed in both men (43% increase, from 10.5 to 15.0 per 100,000) and women (40% increase, from 4.5 to 6.3 per 100,000). While mortality rates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have decreased, deaths related to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have increased. ALD-related HCC is projected to become the leading cause of HCC-related death by 2026, with MASLD as the second-leading cause by 2032.
Survival Outcomes
Survival rates measure the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with liver cancer, typically expressed as a 5-year relative survival rate. For individuals diagnosed between 2014 and 2020, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for liver cancer in the United States was 22%.
Survival outcomes vary significantly depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. When localized (confined to the liver), the 5-year relative survival rate is 37%. If regional (spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes), the 5-year survival rate drops to 13%. For distant spread (e.g., lungs or bones), the 5-year survival rate is 3%.
Disparities and Contributing Factors
Liver cancer statistics show variations across different demographic groups, influenced by a range of contributing factors. Men generally have higher incidence and mortality rates compared to women, with incidence rates for men being 2 to 8 times higher across various regions and ethnic groups. Recent evidence suggests a trend toward less male predominance, particularly in younger birth cohorts.
Racial and ethnic disparities are also evident. In the U.S., Hispanic individuals have shown disproportionately high and increasing rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), followed by Black and non-Hispanic White populations. Conversely, Asian/Pacific Islanders have experienced declines in HCC incidence rates. These differences are often linked to the prevalence of specific risk factors within these communities.
Chronic viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B and C, is a leading cause of liver cancer globally, and its prevalence varies by race and ethnicity, with non-Hispanic Black populations having a greater burden of these infections compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Additionally, conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes are increasingly linked to liver cancer risk, with higher rates of extreme obesity observed among non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American youth. Heavy alcohol consumption also significantly increases liver cancer risk, and alcohol-associated cancer deaths have doubled in the United States, disproportionately affecting men and those aged 55 or older.
Worldwide and Local Patterns
Liver cancer presents a significant global health challenge, with its incidence and mortality rates varying considerably across different regions. Worldwide, liver cancer ranks as the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2022, an estimated 866,136 new liver cancer cases and 758,725 related deaths were recorded globally.
The geographic distribution of liver cancer is not uniform, with a high concentration of cases and deaths in regions with lower human development indices. Eastern Asia, Micronesia, and Northern Africa exhibit some of the highest age-standardized incidence rates. Almost half of all liver cancer cases in 2022 occurred in East Asia, with China alone accounting for approximately 42.45% of the world’s liver cancer cases. Mongolia, for instance, had an age-standardized incidence rate of 96.1 per 100,000. These regional differences are often attributed to varying prevalences of risk factors, such as chronic viral hepatitis infections in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, and higher rates of alcohol consumption in some European countries.