Skin Cancer Statistics

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Northern Ireland, accounting for over 31% of all cancers. About 4,210 people develop the disease each year and around 387 of these are malignant melanomas. Malignant melanoma rates have risen remarkably here over the past 30 years, from an average of 103 cases per year in the mid-1980s, to 387 cases each year at present.

Incidence of skin cancer in Northern Ireland

The number of skin cancers, including melanoma, is expected to continue to rise. Why?

More people are sun-bathing and using sunbeds
We have an ageing population (there are growing numbers of older people)
Due to a reduction in the ozone layer

The tables below show details of cases and deaths from malignant melanoma and other skin cancers for males and females from 2000-2018:

Malignant Melanoma – incidence

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Male	88	101	83	108	99	104	96	138	121	115	128	151	170	155	209	184	154	190
Female	131	146	129	136	132	150	138	164	165	166	171	195	207	197	198	212	198	233

Non-melanoma skin cancer – incidence

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Male	1075	1227	1238	1176	1241	1402	1435	1700	1733	1615	1846	2060	2139	2038	2191	2191	2263	2417
Female	1001	1059	1078	1030	1076	1201	1287	1406	1353	1235	1503	1663	1600	1517	1582	1607	1632	1725

Malignant Melanoma – deaths

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Male	20	18	23	24	28	27	24	24	18	39	26	22	15	30	36	29	38	41
Female	15	20	17	13	14	22	31	32	27	27	16	21	17	25	27	18	35	25

Non-melanoma skin cancer - deaths

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Male & Female (combined)	20	12	18	16	14	17	19	18	19	13	18	22	19	24	34	24	34	40

For more information on skin cancer statistics visit Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.

Care in the Sun

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