Key Statistics for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for leukemia in the United States for 2021 are:

• About 61,090 new cases of leukemia (all kinds) and 23,660 deaths from leukemia (all kinds)
• About 20,240 new cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Most will be in adults.
• About 11,400 deaths from AML. Almost all will be in adults.

AML is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. Still, AML is fairly rare overall, accounting for only about 1% of all cancers.

AML is generally a disease of older people and is uncommon before the age of 45. The average age of people when they are first diagnosed with AML is about 68. But AML can occur in children as well.

AML is slightly more common among men than women, but the average lifetime risk of getting AML in both sexes is about ½ of 1%.

Information on treatment success rates for AML in adults can be found in Treatment Response Rates for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.