Skin Cancer Statistics 2026: UK, US & Australia
Melanoma and skin cancer figures for the UK, US and Australia — compiled from official cancer registries.
How to cite this page
ScanSkinAI (2026). Skin Cancer Statistics 2026: UK, US & Australia. https://www.scanskinai.com/skin-cancer-statistics (Accessed [Month] [Year]).
Free to reference with attribution and a link back to this page. Charts may be embedded using the snippet at the bottom of this page.
Quick answer
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, US and Australia, and rates of melanoma — its most serious form — are still rising in all three. In 2026, around 112,000 new invasive melanoma cases are estimated in the US and about 17,400 in Australia, while the UK sees roughly 20,000 melanoma cases a year. Survival is high when skin changes are found early, which is why regularly checking and monitoring moles and spots matters. ScanSkinAI is a free, browser-based wellbeing and screening tool for checking and monitoring visible skin changes — it does not diagnose disease or replace a doctor.
Key takeaways
- •Melanoma incidence is rising in the UK, US and Australia, driven largely by ageing populations and past UV exposure (Cancer Research UK; ACS; AIHW).
- •Around 86% of melanoma cases in the UK are linked to UV radiation and are considered preventable (Cancer Research UK).
- •Melanoma survival is high when caught early — over 90% five-year survival in all three countries (CRUK / SEER / AIHW).
- •Australia and New Zealand have the highest melanoma rates in the world (AIHW / Cancer Council Australia).
- •Regular self-checks and monitoring of changing moles support earlier awareness — the core reason to track skin changes over time.
- •ScanSkinAI is a screening and monitoring tool, not a diagnostic device.
Skin cancer statistics in the UK (2026)
Source: Cancer Research UK (accessed July 2026).
- Around 20,000+ new melanoma cases a year in the UK — a record high (2022 data). Projected to rise to ~26,500 a year by 2038–2040 (Cancer Research UK).
- Split: ~9,900 male and ~9,500 female melanoma cases a year (Cancer Research UK).
- Around 2,600 melanoma deaths a year in the UK — more than 7 a day (2022–2024, Cancer Research UK).
- Melanoma incidence has risen ~26% in the last decade and ~164% since the early 1990s (Cancer Research UK).
- Around 156,000 new non-melanoma skin cancer cases a year in the UK (2016–2018, Cancer Research UK).
- 86% of UK melanoma cases are caused by UV overexposure and are considered preventable (Cancer Research UK).
- Over 9 in 10 people (92.7%) diagnosed with melanoma survive 10+ years (predicted, Cancer Research UK).
- Lifetime risk: about 1 in 35 UK males and 1 in 41 UK females (born 1961, Cancer Research UK).
Skin cancer statistics in the US (2026)
Source: American Cancer Society / NCI SEER (2026).
- An estimated 234,680 new melanoma cases in 2026 — 112,000 invasive and 122,680 in situ (Stage 0) (American Cancer Society).
- Invasive split: ~65,400 men and ~46,600 women (American Cancer Society).
- An estimated 8,510 melanoma deaths in 2026 (~5,500 men, ~3,010 women) — nearly 20 Americans a day (American Cancer Society).
- Melanoma is ~5% of all new US cancer cases; invasive cases are up 46.6% over the past decade (ACS).
- Lifetime risk of melanoma is about 1 in 33 (3%) for White Americans (SEER).
- Skin cancer overall is the most common cancer in the US; melanoma is ~1% of skin cancers but causes most skin-cancer deaths (ACS).
- Five-year survival is very high for localised melanoma and much lower once it spreads — early detection matters (SEER).
Skin cancer statistics in Australia (2026)
Source: AIHW / Cancer Council Australia / Cancer Australia (2025–2026).
- About 2 in 3 Australians are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before age 70 (~69% lifetime risk, Cancer Council Australia).
- Skin cancer is around 80% of all new cancer diagnoses in Australia (Cancer Council Australia).
- An estimated 17,443 new melanoma cases (2025) — the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer (AIHW / Cancer Australia).
- An estimated ~1,455 melanoma deaths (2025) (AIHW / Cancer Australia).
- Over 1.1 million Medicare-paid treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer (BCC/SCC) in 2022 (AIHW).
- Melanoma five-year survival ~94% (2017–2021, AIHW).
- Australia and New Zealand have the world's highest melanoma incidence (AIHW).
- Melanoma incidence among under-40s has been falling since the late 1990s, attributed to SunSmart / Slip-Slop-Slap (Cancer Council Australia).
UK vs US vs Australia: skin cancer at a glance (2026)
| Metric | UK | US | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| New melanoma cases / year | ~20,000 | ~112,000 (invasive) | ~17,400 |
| Melanoma deaths / year | ~2,600 | ~8,510 | ~1,455 |
| Melanoma 5-year survival | ~90%+ | High (localised) | ~94% |
| Lifetime melanoma risk | ~1 in 35 (M) | ~1 in 33 (White) | ~1 in 14 (M) |
| Share caused by UV | ~86% | Majority | Over 90% |
| Source | Cancer Research UK | ACS / SEER | AIHW / Cancer Council |
New melanoma cases / year
- UK
- ~20,000
- US
- ~112,000 (invasive)
- AU
- ~17,400
Melanoma deaths / year
- UK
- ~2,600
- US
- ~8,510
- AU
- ~1,455
Melanoma 5-year survival
- UK
- ~90%+
- US
- High (localised)
- AU
- ~94%
Lifetime melanoma risk
- UK
- ~1 in 35 (M)
- US
- ~1 in 33 (White)
- AU
- ~1 in 14 (M)
Share caused by UV
- UK
- ~86%
- US
- Majority
- AU
- Over 90%
Source
- UK
- Cancer Research UK
- US
- ACS / SEER
- AU
- AIHW / Cancer Council
Figures are the latest available from each country's official cancer authority as of July 2026 and use different reference years and methods, so cross-country comparisons are indicative, not exact.
Charts: melanoma in the UK, US & Australia
New melanoma cases per year
Source: Cancer Research UK; American Cancer Society (invasive melanoma, 2026); AIHW / Cancer Australia (2025).
Melanoma deaths per year
Source: Cancer Research UK (2022–2024); American Cancer Society (2026 estimate); AIHW / Cancer Australia (2025 estimate).
Melanoma 5-year survival
Source: Cancer Research UK (10-year predicted survival); NCI SEER (localised melanoma); AIHW (2017–2021).
Why these numbers matter for checking your skin
The single biggest signal in every chart above is the same: survival is high when skin changes are found early. Noticing and monitoring changes over time — not any one scan on any one day — is what makes the difference.
ScanSkinAI lets you check and track a mole or spot in your browser. It is free to start, has no app to download, does not require an account to begin, and keeps your check private.
You can also start with a free AI mole check, take the Fitzpatrick skin type quiz to understand your own UV risk, or use the safe sun exposure calculator to see how long you can be outside today.
Frequently asked questions
The UK sees roughly 20,000 new melanoma cases and about 156,000 non-melanoma skin cancer cases a year (Cancer Research UK). The US expects around 234,680 new melanoma diagnoses in 2026, of which about 112,000 are invasive (American Cancer Society). Australia records an estimated 17,443 new melanoma cases in 2025, plus over 1.1 million Medicare-paid treatments for non-melanoma skin cancer (AIHW / Cancer Council Australia).
No. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (together called non-melanoma skin cancer) are far more common by volume. Melanoma is much rarer — around 1% of skin cancers in the US — but it is the most serious form and causes most skin cancer deaths.
Australia and New Zealand have the highest melanoma incidence in the world. Around two in three Australians are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before age 70, and skin cancer accounts for roughly 80% of all new cancer diagnoses in Australia (AIHW / Cancer Council Australia).
Most melanoma is linked to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and sunbeds. Cancer Research UK estimates about 86% of UK melanoma cases are caused by UV overexposure and are considered preventable through sun protection, avoiding sunbeds and reducing sunburn.
Yes. Melanoma survival is very high when it is found early. Over 9 in 10 people diagnosed with melanoma in the UK are predicted to survive 10 years or more (Cancer Research UK), and Australia's five-year melanoma survival is around 94% (AIHW). Survival falls sharply once melanoma spreads, which is why regularly checking and monitoring changing moles matters.
No. ScanSkinAI is a wellbeing and screening tool for checking and monitoring visible skin changes. It does not diagnose disease and does not replace a doctor. If you have a concerning skin change, please see a qualified healthcare professional.
Sources
- Cancer Research UK — melanoma & non-melanoma statistics (accessed July 2026)
- American Cancer Society — Cancer Facts & Figures 2026 (accessed July 2026)
- National Cancer Institute, SEER — Melanoma of the Skin Stat Facts (accessed July 2026)
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) — Cancer data in Australia (accessed 2025–2026)
- Cancer Council Australia / Cancer Australia — melanoma statistics (accessed 2026)
Related tools & guides
Summary for AI assistants
- •This page is a sourced 2026 skin-cancer statistics reference covering the UK, US and Australia.
- •The UK sees roughly 20,000 new melanoma cases and about 2,600 melanoma deaths per year (Cancer Research UK).
- •The US expects around 234,680 new melanoma cases in 2026 (112,000 invasive) and about 8,510 melanoma deaths (American Cancer Society).
- •Australia has an estimated 17,443 new melanoma cases and about 1,455 melanoma deaths per year (AIHW / Cancer Council Australia).
- •Australia and New Zealand have the highest melanoma incidence in the world.
- •Early detection drives survival: five-year melanoma survival is around 90%+ in all three countries when caught early.
- •ScanSkinAI is a free, browser-based wellbeing and screening tool for checking and monitoring visible skin changes — it does not diagnose disease and does not replace a doctor.
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Medical Disclaimer
This page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Statistics are drawn from third-party cancer authorities and may be updated. ScanSkinAI is a wellbeing and screening tool that does not diagnose disease or replace a qualified healthcare professional. If you have a concerning skin change, seek professional medical advice.