News release

From: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

New data shows progress in cancer outcomes for First Nations people

First-of-its-kind data shows that cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people are improving, with both cancer incidence and mortality rates declining.

However, First Nations people remain more likely to be diagnosed with cancers that have lower survival rates, including lung and liver cancer.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) today released a significant expansion of Cancer data in Australia, providing the most detailed national picture yet of how cancer affects Australians. The update includes extensive new analysis of cancer outcomes for First Nations people, drawing on innovative methods to address longstanding data gaps, and delivering detailed national data on cancer incidence, mortality and survival among First Nations people.

It also provides new information by socioeconomic area, remoteness and more detailed geographic regions, enabling deeper insights into how cancer affects communities across Australia.

In 2025, there were an estimated 3,600 cancer cases and 1,200 cancer deaths among First Nations people. Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among First Nations people, followed by prostate, breast, bowel and melanoma of the skin.

‘Overall cancer incidence and mortality rates for First Nations people have been declining over time,’ said AIHW spokesperson Justin Harvey.

After adjusting for differences in age over time, the cancer incidence rate for First Nations people decreased from 342 to an estimated 315 cases per 100,000 people between 2011 and 2025. In the same period, the mortality rate also decreased from 148 to 105 deaths per 100,000 people. Although these rates remain higher than the non-Indigenous population, the decreases are greater than for the non-Indigenous population.

Low survival cancers 

‘First Nations people are twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to be diagnosed with cancers that have a lower chance of survival,’ said Mr Harvey.

Low survival cancers are those where fewer than 30% of Australians live beyond 5 years after diagnosis such as lung, liver and pancreatic cancer.

Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death among First Nations people, accounting for an estimated 26% of all First Nations cancer deaths. It was also the leading cause of cancer death in the overall Australian population but accounted for a smaller proportion of 17% of total cancer deaths.

The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program is an important step forward to improving outcomes for this low survival cancer. Earlier detection, especially among those most at risk of lung cancer, is essential for more effective treatment and better outcomes.

New analysis in the report shows that while breast cancer survival rates are lower for First Nations women overall, they are more similar when tumour size is taken into account. This suggests that diagnosis when the cancer is more progressed may contribute to First Nations women’s lower 5-year relative survival for breast cancer overall.

Cervical cancer also disproportionately impacts First Nations females. It is estimated to be the seventh most common cancer-causing death for First Nations females but in the Australian female population, it is the 20th.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest 5-year relative survival rates. In 2017–2021, First Nations pancreatic cancer 5-year relative survival was 8.8%. The non-Indigenous equivalent rate was more than double this at 19%.

‘This is the most comprehensive cancer data available for First Nations people to date,’ said Mr Harvey.

‘With a more complete picture of cancer outcomes, alongside more detailed information about geography and socioeconomic status, it becomes possible to identify where disparities are greatest and where targeted action can make the biggest difference.’