October 3, 2025Open Access

Epidemiology of thyroid cancer in Asia in 2020 and its projection to 2040

Key Points

Thyroid cancer incidence and mortality are increasing in Asia, highlighting a significant health challenge.
In 2020, the age-standardized incidence rate for thyroid cancer was 6.40 per 100,000, with a projected rise of 26.6% by 2040.
Data from the Global Cancer Observatory were used to calculate incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates by age and sex for the region.
Strategies must be prioritized for high-incidence areas and regions with limited resources to address disparities in cancer management.

Abstract

Abstract Background Thyroid cancer has incidence continues to rise globally. Understanding the epidemiology of thyroid cancer and the future burden on public health systems is necessary. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and mortality of thyroid cancer by age, sex, country in Asia in 2020 and its projection up to 2040. Methods The Global Cancer Observatory provided data on thyroid cancer incidence and mortality for the year 2020. By taking into account the sex, age group, and Asia region, the counts, rates, and mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) were calculated. To estimate the projected number of new cancer cases or mortalities between 2025 and 2040 in a particular nation, the corresponding expected population for the years 2025 to 2040 was multiplied by the age-specific incidence or mortality rates calculated for 2020. Results In 2020, the 5-year prevalence rate, age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for thyroid cancer were 24.60, 6.40, and 0.44 per 100,000 population in Asia, respectively. By country, the highest thyroid cancer 5-year prevalence rates and ASIRs were found in the Republic of Korea. The highest thyroid cancer ASMRs among both sexes combined were in the United Arab Emirates and Syrian Arab Republic. The highest incidence and mortality crude rates were in the 50–59 and 70 + age groups, respectively. Women had higher incidence and mortality rates than men. There were significant correlations between human development index and MIR and ASIR ( p < 0.001). The number of newly diagnosed thyroid cancer cases and mortalities are expected to rise by 26.6% and 77.8% up to 2040 in Asia, respectively. Conclusions Asia is experiencing rising rates of thyroid cancer incidence and mortality. It is imperative to prioritize strategies aimed at high-incidence regions, transitioning countries with limited resources, and younger adult populations to alleviate the global burden of thyroid cancer and resolve disparities in cancer management.

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Cite This Study

Mousavi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68dfa9f12808bcf356ab6c20 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24029-9

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