In its latest report, the Iran Open Data website cited the most recent research and statistical data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization.
According to this report, Iran has the third-highest number of cancer cases in the region, with over 137,000 reported cases annually and nearly 119,000 deaths attributed to cancer.
This places Iran behind only Turkey and Saudi Arabia in terms of cancer incidence. However, officials from Iran regime’s Ministry of Health claim that the actual number of cancer cases in the country is closer to 150,000 per year.
Despite official acknowledgment of the high prevalence of cancer in Iran, it appears that the actual figures surpass those reported by both the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. Iran Open Data’s investigations suggest that this discrepancy arises from deficiencies in the screening and recording of cancer statistics, not only within Iran but also across many countries in the region.
Furthermore, while Iran ranks third in terms of cancer incidence and mortality when population size is not considered, adjusting for population reveals that Iran falls to fourth place, trailing behind Armenia, Turkey, and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Chart One: Cases of developing cancer in Iran compared to neighboring countries
Chart Two: Cases of death due to cancer in Iran compared to neighboring countries
According to the latest data from the IARC, Iran had an incidence rate of 160 cases per 100,000 people and a death rate of 101 deaths per 100,000 cases in 2022.
One significant observation is the disproportionately high ratio of cancer deaths to cases in Iran compared to other countries with high cancer rates. For instance, in Japan, there are 339 cancer deaths per 800 cases, while in France, the ratio is 291 deaths per 737 cases. Similarly, the United States reports 181 deaths per 811 cases, and the United Kingdom records 265 deaths per 664 cases. Conversely, in China, Israel, and Turkey, the death rates among cancer patients are notably lower.
In Iran, 101 individuals die out of every 160 diagnosed with cancer, indicating a much higher death-to-case ratio compared to the global average and other countries. Specifically, Iran sees 64% of cancer cases result in death annually, compared to the global average of 49% and Turkey’s 54%. In contrast, Japan and Israel report rates of 42% and France 39%, with the United States exhibiting the lowest rate at 25%.
Several factors contribute to the heightened risk of cancer in Iran, including air pollution, water scarcity, food insecurity, the use of mazut fuel in power plants, contaminated water and food sources, as well as widespread alcohol and cigarette consumption. Additionally, workplaces contaminated with chemicals pose another significant risk factor.
According to Ministry of Health statistics, more than 26,000 deaths in Iran are attributed to air pollution annually. Abbas Shahsavani, the head of the Ministry of Health’s Air Health and Climate Change Department, has stated that over 13% of natural deaths in Iran are linked to air pollution.
