Table 1 presents oral cancer prevalence in total number and percent of population for adult men and women of all ages.
Oral Cancer Prevalence
- In 2019, approximately 279,000 (0.2%) of men and 131,000 (0.1%) of women had oral cancer.
- There are more people with oral cancer in older age groups (aged 50 years and older).
Table 1: Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx, Total Number of Cases
| Gender | All Ages | <15 years | 15-39 years | 40-64 years | 65-74 years | 75+ years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 410,376 | 369 | 11,703 | 149,901 | 132,426 | 115,976 |
| All (percent of total population | 0.1 | <0.1 | <0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Male (total number) | 279,047 | 215 | 5,978 | 103,956 | 95,274 | 73,623 |
| Male (percent of total population) | 0.2 | <0.1 | <0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Female (total number) | 131,329 | 154 | 5,725 | 45,945 | 37,152 | 42,353 |
| Female (percent of total population) | 0.1 | <0.1 | <0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, National Cancer Institute
U.S. 2019 cancer prevention estimates are based on 2019 cancer prevalence proportions from the SEER 12 areas and the January 1, 2019, U.S. population estimates based on the average of 2018 and 2019 population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The Alaska Native Tumor Registry only includes cases diagnosed among Alaska natives and is excluded from the analysis to avoid bias in the underlying calculations.
Last Reviewed
April 2023