Cancer now kills more children than HIV, TB and measles combined, new study reveals
Childhood cancer has quietly become one of the deadliest threats to children worldwide, now killing more young lives than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and measles combined, a major global study has revealed.
The findings, published in The Lancet, expose a deep inequality: where a child is born increasingly determines whether they survive cancer.
377,000 cases, 144,000 deaths — the global picture
In 2023 alone, a total of 377,000 children were diagnosed with cancer, of which 144,000 died from the disease.
This makes childhood cancer the eighth leading cause of death among children globally, highlighting a growing but often overlooked crisis.
Why poorer countries are paying the highest price
The burden is overwhelmingly concentrated in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital found that:
- 85 percent of new cases occur in poorer countries
- 94 percent of deaths happen in these regions
The reasons are stark:
- Delayed diagnosis
- Limited access to treatment
- Weak health systems
“While outcomes for many childhood cancers have improved in high-income countries, these gains have not been equitably shared,” said Lisa Force.
Africa among the hardest hit
The study shows the World Health Organisation African Region records the highest number of childhood cancer deaths globally, with fatalities rising by nearly 56 percent since 1990.
Although death rates have fallen globally, the progress has largely benefited wealthier nations.
The most common childhood cancers
The cancers causing the greatest burden include:
- Leukaemia
- Brain and central nervous system cancers
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
These are often treatable, but only where care is accessible.
What must change
Experts warn that thousands of deaths could be prevented with targeted investment.
Key solutions include:
- Early diagnosis systems
- More trained health workers
- Access to chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy
- Stronger cancer data systems
Nickhill Bhakta said global efforts aim to push childhood cancer survival rates to at least 60% by 2030.
Despite a 27 percent drop in global deaths since 1990, the study paints a clear picture: Childhood cancer is no longer just a medical issue--it is a global inequality crisis.
For millions of children, survival still depends not on science, but on geography.
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