Fresh data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) show just how widespread cancer has become in Germany, which tumour types now dominate, and how much is linked to lifestyle and preventable risks.
Half the country faces a cancer diagnosis at some point
The latest RKI analysis paints a stark picture: cancer is no longer a remote threat, but a near certainty for a large share of the population.
According to the RKI, almost one in two people in Germany will develop cancer during their lifetime – 49% of men and 43% of women.
The numbers come from the RKI’s Epidemiological Bulletin, based on national cancer registry data for 2023. They show that cancer is not only a disease of very old age.
Before the age of 65, every sixth woman and every seventh man in Germany already receives a cancer diagnosis. Families are increasingly confronted with the disease during what should be peak working and caregiving years, not just in retirement.
In total, around 517,800 people were newly diagnosed with cancer in Germany in 2023. Of these, roughly 276,400 were men and 241,400 were women. For a country of about 84 million people, this translates into thousands of new cases every single week.
The big four: prostate, breast, lung and bowel cancers dominate
Although there are many different forms of cancer, four tumour types are shaping the statistics and the debate in Germany.
The four most common tumour types – prostate, breast, lung, and colorectal cancer – together account for roughly half of all new cases.
How the leading cancer types compare
The RKI data for 2023 highlight the following picture:
- Prostate cancer: 79,600 new cases
- Breast cancer: 75,900 new cases
- Lung cancer: 58,300 new cases
- Colon and rectal cancer: 55,300 new cases
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, while breast cancer remains the leading diagnosis in women. Lung and colorectal cancers affect both sexes in large numbers and are among the deadliest, because they are often detected late.
Beyond these, the RKI and international research warn that liver cancer could become a growing problem. One recent study suggests that global liver cancer cases could almost double by 2050, driven by obesity, fatty liver disease, alcohol and chronic infections.
Cancer as a major cause of death in Germany
Cancer is already the second most common cause of death in Germany, behind cardiovascular diseases. The 2023 mortality statistics record about 229,000 cancer deaths nationwide.
| Category | Number of people (2023) |
|---|---|
| New cancer diagnoses | ≈ 517,800 |
| New cases in men | ≈ 276,400 |
| New cases in women | ≈ 241,400 |
| Cancer deaths overall | ≈ 229,000 |
| Cancer deaths in men | ≈ 123,000 |
| Cancer deaths in women | ≈ 106,000 |
These figures stem from the report “Cancer in Germany”, compiled by the German cancer registry in cooperation with the Centre for Cancer Registry Data at the RKI and released at the end of 2023.
How much cancer could be prevented?
While genetics and age play a major role, a substantial share of cancers does not arise by pure chance. According to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), at least one third of cancer cases in Germany could be avoided.
Studies indicate that a large proportion of cancers is linked to modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, obesity and lack of exercise.
Research from the American Cancer Society reaches similar conclusions. Among adults in the United States aged 30 and older, roughly 40% of cancer cases are estimated to be attributable to potentially changeable risk factors.
Key risk factors identified by researchers
The best-documented cancer risk factors include:
- Smoking: Still the single biggest driver of lung cancer and a contributor to many other tumour types, from bladder to pancreas.
- Alcohol consumption: Linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, breast and colon.
- Excess body weight: Associated with higher risk of colon, breast (post-menopause), endometrial, kidney and liver cancer, among others.
- Unhealthy diet: Diets high in processed meat, sugar and ultra-processed foods, and low in fibre, fruit and vegetables can raise risk.
- Physical inactivity: Lack of movement is tied to higher risk of several common cancers, especially of the colon and breast.
On top of these, environmental exposures, infections such as HPV and hepatitis, and occupational hazards add to the overall burden.
World Cancer Day puts pressure on prevention and care
The RKI published the latest figures in the run-up to World Cancer Day, marked every year on 4 February. The international day aims to strengthen public awareness, push governments to invest in prevention, and encourage earlier detection and better treatment.
In Germany, debates increasingly focus on how to reach people before they become patients: stricter tobacco rules, clearer alcohol labelling, urban planning that supports walking and cycling, and food policies that make healthier choices easier and cheaper.
Cancer statistics are no longer just hospital numbers; they are a mirror of social habits, policy decisions and prevention gaps.
What these numbers mean in everyday life
For an average German household, the RKI figures mean that cancer is not some abstract threat from medical textbooks. If almost half the population will be diagnosed at some point, most families will face the disease in parents, partners, siblings or themselves.
Imagine a street with 20 homes in a typical German town. On that one street alone, around ten residents can expect a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime, based on current risk levels. Several will face it before turning 65, in the middle of their working lives and family responsibilities.
This reality changes how people think about long-term planning: pensions, career breaks, caregiving, and mental health all come into play when a disease this common enters the picture.
Key terms people often ask about
What counts as a “modifiable” risk factor?
Researchers use “modifiable” to describe factors that people or societies can change, at least to some extent. Smoking, diet and exercise are classic examples. No one chooses their genes or their childhood, but policies and individual decisions can shift patterns of behaviour over time.
That does not mean blame sits with patients. Cancer can strike healthy, active non-smokers as well. Modifiable risk refers to probabilities and population trends, not moral judgement. Even small shifts at population level – fewer cigarettes smoked, slightly less alcohol, more fibre – can translate into thousands of avoided cases over a decade.
Why early detection still matters alongside prevention
Preventing cancer is one part of the story, but catching it early is the other. Many of the big four cancers identified by the RKI – breast, colorectal and, to a lesser extent, prostate – have established screening or early detection offers in Germany and across Europe.
For example, regular bowel cancer screening using stool tests or colonoscopy can find precancerous polyps and remove them before they turn malignant. Mammography programmes aim to identify breast tumours when they are still small and treatable. In the case of prostate cancer, PSA testing remains controversial, yet targeted use in high-risk groups can help pick up aggressive tumours.
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Combining prevention and early detection is where health systems could make the biggest dent in the cancer burden: fewer people developing tumours in the first place, and better outcomes for those who do.
