Leukemia remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children, with about 45,900 fatalities globally.

Global Childhood Cancer Burden: 94% Deaths in Low and Middle-Income Countries, Lancet Report Shows

Despite global progress in reducing childhood cancer deaths, low and middle-income countries continue to bear the heaviest burden. According to the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), published in The Lancet, approximately 3,77,000 new childhood cancer cases were reported worldwide in 2023, resulting in roughly 1,44,000 deaths.

India reported 17,000 childhood deaths due to cancer in 2023, closely followed by China with 16,000. Nigeria and Pakistan each accounted for around 9,000 deaths, highlighting significant regional disparities.

While global childhood cancer mortality has declined by 27 percent since 1990, African nations experienced a 55.6 percent rise in deaths. Childhood cancer is now the eighth leading cause of death among children worldwide, and the burden is particularly high in areas with limited healthcare resources.

Leukemia remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children, with about 45,900 fatalities globally. Cancers of the brain and nervous system accounted for 23,200 deaths, while non-Hodgkin lymphoma contributed 15,200 deaths.

The study notes that the majority of cases and fatalities, over 85 percent of cases and 94 percent of deaths, occur in low, lower-middle, and upper-middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank. 

The study highlights the urgent need for improved access to diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare infrastructure in countries with limited resources.