In Switzerland, between 2018 and 2022, around 48 100 people developed cancer every year. This represents 385 people per 100 000 population. From 1983–87 to 2018–2022, a decrease was seen in the annual incidence rate among men for bronchus, lung and respiratory tract cancer (from 79 to 46 cases per 100 000 population). Over the same period, the incidence rate for these same cancers increased among women (from 14 to 32 cases per 100 000 population). Across both sexes, a sharp increase in melanoma (black skin cancer) was also observed (from 13 to 29 cases per 100 000 population). In men, the incidence rate of prostate cancer also rose significantly during the same period (from 79 to 135 cases per 100 000 population).
Over the whole period men developed cancer more than women. Cancer of the prostate is the most frequent cancer among men, followed by bronchus, lung and respiratory tract cancer as well as colorectal cancer. Among women, it is breast cancer, likewise followed by bronchus, lung and respiratory tract cancer as well as colorectal cancer.
This indicator is part of the Monitoring System Addiction and NCD (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Along with cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the most common cause of death in Switzerland (FSO). Cancer is also responsible for the greatest number of potential years of life lost in Switzerland (see “Years of life lost to NCD” indicator). With the demographic ageing of Switzerland’s population, cancer will become an even more important subject in the future, as the risk of developing most types of cancer increases with age. The most common types of cancer are breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma and bronchus, lung and respiratory tract cancer. A major risk factor for melanoma is ultraviolet radiation from the sun or lamps, such as those used in solariums. The risk factors of diet, exercise, alcohol and tobacco play an important role for the other four types of cancer.
The most relevant method to demonstrate the impact of measures in the prevention or treatment of cancer is to present the main types of cancer.
Definition
Swiss cancer data are provided by the NICER foundation (National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration) and the cantonal cancer registers. Since the cancer registration law (KRG - SR 818.33) came into force – from 2016 data onwards – this task has been assumed by the National Agency for Cancer Registration (NACR), run by the NICER foundation. This indicator is updated annually.
This indicator shows the annual cancer incidence rate per 100 000 population (more precisely: the annual average over a five-year period) as well as the percentage distribution of types of cancer. Epidemiology uses the term “incidence” to describe the number of new cases occurring in a defined population in a given period of time. The data by canton and sex are age-standardised according to the European standard population in 1976. Data by age and sex show the crude rates.
The cancer types are determined according to the ICD-10 :
- C00-43, 45-97: All cancers (excl. non-melanotic skin cancer)
- C18-20: Colorectal cancer
- C33-34: Bronchus, lung and respiratory tract cancer
- C43: Melanoma
- C50: Breast cancer
- C61: Prostate cancer
There are several reasons for spatial or temporal differences between cancer incidence rates in the cantons (environmental factors, diagnostic factors and data availability, etc.). The incidence rates shown should, therefore, be interpreted with caution. The cancer registration law of 18 March 2016 introduced the uniform registration of cancers on a nationwide basis, further improving the comparability of data on the cancer burden in all cantons.
Source
- National Agency for Cancer Registration (NACR): Website
Reference
- Federal Statistical Office (FSO) Specific causes of death
Further information
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO): Cancer Monitoring Switzerland (in french or german)
- Cancer league: website (in German, French and Italian)
- Childhood Cancer Registry: website
- OECD (2024), Beating Cancer Inequalities in the EU: Spotlight on Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris: Report (Englisch).
- Swiss Cancer Report 2021. Current situation and developments (2021). Federal Statistical Office (FSO), National Agency for Cancer Registration (NACR), Childhood Cancer Registry (KiKR). Neuchâtel: Report (in German and French).
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO): National cancer statistics
Media enquiries
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Tel. +41 58 462 95 05
media@bag.admin.ch
Enquiries
Tel. +41 58 463 60 45
obsan@bfs.admin.ch
https://www.obsan.admin.ch/en/contact
Last updated
12/02/2026
Citation
FOPH & Obsan (2026). Cancer: incidence (MonAM indicator). https://ind.obsan.admin.ch/en/indicator/monam/_310
