Asian Americans generally have lower cancer rates than the total population. However, health gaps still exist within certain types of cancer.1
- From 2018–2022,1
- Asian/Pacific Islanders, both male and female, had rates of new liver and intrahepatic bile duct (IBD) cancer that were 19% higher than those in their respective total populations.
- From 2019-2023,2
- Death rates for stomach cancer in Asian/Pacific Islander males exceeded the total male population by 49%.
- Asian/Pacific Islander females died from liver and IBD cancer and from stomach cancer at rates 21% and 65% higher, respectively, than females in the total population.
Visit MedlinePlus for more health information about Cancer and Living with Cancer in multiple Asian languages.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute for information about cancer screening.
Looking for curated searches on cancer within minority and tribal populations, including Asian American populations, in the United States and its territories? Check out the OMH Knowledge Center Topic Guides.
Diagnosis
| Cancer among adults ages 18 and over, age-adjusted percentage, 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian only | Total Population | Asian / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 5.1 | 10.3 | 0.50 |
| Breast | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.72 |
| Cervical (Females) | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.29 |
| Prostate (Males) | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.77 |
| Any skin | 0.2 | 3.6 | 0.06 |
Top cancer sites for Asian American (2018–2022)
| Cancer incidence among males, rate per 100,000 population, 2018–2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Males | Total Population Males | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 349.0 | 441.7 | 0.79 |
| Colon & Rectum | 35.5 | 40.6 | 0.87 |
| Esophagus | 4.1 | 7.3 | 0.56 |
| Kidney | 11.7 | 23.6 | 0.50 |
| Liver & IBD | 16.6 | 13.9 | 1.19 |
| Lung | 41.2 | 51.0 | 0.81 |
| Oral Cavity & Pharynx | 12.3 | 17.9 | 0.69 |
| Pancreas | 12.1 | 15.9 | 0.76 |
| Prostate | 77.2 | 133.6 | 0.58 |
| Stomach | 12.3 | 9.6 | 1.28 |
| Cancer incidence among females, rate per 100,000 population, 2018–2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Females | Total Population Females | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 328.3 | 500.3 | 0.66 |
| Breast | 126.9 | 136.5 | 0.93 |
| Cervical | 5.8 | 7.8 | 0.74 |
| Colon & Rectum | 24.7 | 30.9 | 0.80 |
| Kidney | 5.3 | 12.0 | 0.44 |
| Liver & IBD | 6.9 | 5.8 | 1.19 |
| Lung | 28.5 | 43.7 | 0.65 |
| Pancreas | 9.9 | 12.7 | 0.78 |
| Stomach | 7.6 | 6.5 | 1.17 |
| Uterus | 24.7 | 29.2 | 0.85 |
5-year survival rate
| 5-year survival rate among males by cancer site, percentage, 2015–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Males | Total Population Males | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 62.2 | 68.7 | 0.91 |
| Colon & Rectum | 66.9 | 63.9 | 1.05 |
| Kidney | 79.3 | 78.8 | 1.01 |
| Liver & IBD | 31.2 | 21.7 | 1.44 |
| Lung | 29.3 | 23.8 | 1.23 |
| Pancreas | 14.6 | 13.1 | 1.11 |
| Prostate | 93.8 | 98.6 | 0.95 |
| Stomach | 42.9 | 34.2 | 1.25 |
| 5-year survival rate among females, percentage, 2015–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Females | Total Population Females | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 73.3 | 71.2 | 1.03 |
| Breast | 92.3 | 91.7 | 1.01 |
| Cervical | 70.9 | 68.0 | 1.04 |
| Colon & Rectum | 66.9 | 63.9 | 1.05 |
| Kidney | 80.0 | 81.4 | 0.98 |
| Liver & IBD | 28.2 | 22.8 | 1.24 |
| Lung | 40.1 | 32.6 | 1.23 |
| Pancreas | 15.5 | 13.5 | 1.15 |
| Stomach | 42.0 | 43.2 | 0.97 |
| Uterus | 82.3 | 81.1 | 1.01 |
Death rates
| 5-year mortality among males, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2019–2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Males | Total Population Males | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 107.1 | 171.5 | 0.62 |
| Colon & Rectum | 10.9 | 15.3 | 0.71 |
| Liver & IBD | 11.4 | 13.9 | 0.82 |
| Lung | 23.4 | 37.2 | 0.63 |
| Pancreas | 8.4 | 12.9 | 0.65 |
| Prostate | 8.8 | 19.2 | 0.46 |
| Stomach | 5.2 | 3.5 | 1.49 |
| 5-year mortality among females, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2018–2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Females | Total Population Females | Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander / Total Population Ratio |
| All Sites | 83.1 | 126.3 | 0.66 |
| Breast | 11.8 | 19.2 | 0.61 |
| Cervical | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.73 |
| Colon & Rectum | 7.8 | 10.8 | 0.72 |
| Liver & IBD | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.21 |
| Pancreas | 7.2 | 9.9 | 0.73 |
| Stomach | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.65 |
| Uterus | 3.8 | 5.3 | 0.72 |
Screening
Breast cancer
| Females aged 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years, percentage, 2019 (crude) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Asian Females | Total Population Females | Non-Hispanic Asian / Total Population Ratio |
| 63.7 | 79.8 | 0.80 |
Cervical cancer
| Females aged 21 to 65 years receiving a cervical cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines, percentage, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Asian Females | Total Population Females | Non-Hispanic Asian / Total Population Ratio |
| 62.7 | 73.9 | 0.85 |
Colorectal cancer
| Adults aged 45 to 75 years receiving colorectal cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines, percentage, 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Asian | Total Population | Non-Hispanic Asian / Total Population Ratio |
| 57.0 | 63.5 | 0.90 |
1 SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17. (Back to top)
2 SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17. (Back to top)
Date Last Reviewed: September 2025