Icelandic Cancer Registry

Cancer in Iceland

  • Size of the Icelandic population July 1. 2009: around 320.000.
  • Average annual number of new cancer cases in the period 2003 - 2007: 688 males and 619 females.
  • Prevalence (all cancer) December 31st 2007: 10.195 individuals (4.408 males and 5.787 females).
  • Around one in three Icelanders can expect to be diagnosed with cancer during his or her lifetime.
  • Over 50% of cancers are diagnosed after the age of 65 years.
  • Cancer causes 25% of all deaths in Iceland.
  • Five year relative survival for all cancer has more then doubled since the year 1955.

Cancer sorted by average yearly number of cases 2003 - 2007