Cancer incidence in Scotland
To December 2022

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides an annual update of cancer incidence statistics in Scotland from January 1998 to December 2022. All cancer types are included. Generally, cancer incidence statistics should be interpreted within the context of long-term trends.

Main points

• There were 36,036 new cancers registered in Scotland (18,319 male; 17,717 female) in 2022 (an increase of 1% compared with 2021). This is in-line with a long-term trend of increasing number of cancer diagnoses over time (32,384 cancer registrations in 2013).
• The risk of cancer has been increasing in females aged under 50 years old. The rate has increased by 6.5% since 2012, from 123 cancers per 100,000 population to 131 per 100,000 population. The rate in males under 50 remained fairly constant over this period. However, risks of colorectal cancer have increased significantly (a 30% increase, from 6 per 100,000 population to 8 per 100,000 population) in both females and males under 50 years old between 2012 and 2022.
• Rates of both cervical cancer and pre-cancerous cervical changes (cancer in situ of cervix uteri) have greatly reduced in females aged 20-24 because of the human papilloma virus vaccination programme, which began in 2008.

Line chart showing decreasing trends in cervical cancer and cervical cancer in situ between 2002 and 2022.

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Trend in age-adjusted incidence rates in cancer of the cervix uteri and cancer in situ of the cervix in Scotland, 2002-2022, in all females aged 20-24

• The most common cancers in Scotland in 2022 were lung, breast, prostate and bowel, accounting for over half (55%) of all malignancies (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). While welcome reductions in smoking prevalence have occurred in Scotland, there remains considerable potential to prevent more cancers through further reductions in smoking, reducing the number of people who are overweight or obese, improving diet and reducing alcohol consumption. Around 4 in 10 cancers might be prevented by lifestyle changes.
• There were 1,656 melanoma skin cancer registrations in 2022, this is 8% higher than 2021 (1,528 registrations) and 40% higher than 2013 (1,183 registrations). Over 80% of melanoma skin cancer in the UK could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds. 
• Cancer screening makes an important contribution to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. Half (51%) of breast cancers, 40% of cervical cancers and a third (35%) of bowel cancers are diagnosed through screening, among those eligible for it.

Background

The Scottish Cancer Registry collects information on every cancer in Scotland and uses the data to inform cancer control. Cancer registrations are believed to be essentially complete for the year 2022, but it is important to note that the cancer registration database is dynamic (e.g. late registrations for 2022 can still be recorded after these figures have been published). Reporting of "All cancers" by convention excludes non-melanoma skin cancers although every cancer is registered.

Cancer incidence reflects risk factors for developing cancer, efforts to detect cancer (e.g. public awareness, screening programmes and the impact of the pandemic on diagnosis pathways) and the at-risk population (which is increasing due to an ageing and expanding population).  Population data were not available to produce information on the impact of socio-economic deprivation for this publication, but a further report will be produced as soon as possible.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be Summer 2025.