Melanoma incidence rate Australia 2021, by age

Around 64 in every 100,000 Australians were projected to be diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in 2021. The incidence rate increased with age between 10 and 89, with the 85-89-year-old age group having an estimated incidence of over 288 cases per 100,000 persons in 2021.

Incidence of cancer in Australia

Cancer incidence refers to the number of newly diagnosed cases of the disease in a particular time period, typically one year. Cancer is among the leading causes of illness and death in Australia. The types of cancer with the highest incidence in Australia include prostate, breast, colorectal/bowel, melanoma and lung cancer.

The dark side of the sunny life Down Under

Australia and New Zealand are home to the highest incidence rates of melanoma in the world. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is commonly, however not exclusively, found on sun-exposed parts of the body, as the risk of developing melanoma increases with ultra-violet radiation (UV rays). Other types of skin cancers exist, however, melanoma is considered to be the most dangerous given its likelihood of spreading within the body.