Key Statistics for Childhood Cancers
About 11,050 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Overall, this accounts for less than 1% of all cancers. Childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades.
Because of major treatment advances in recent decades, 84% of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more. Overall, this is a huge increase since the mid-1970s, when the 5-year survival rate was about 58%. Still, survival rates can vary a great deal depending on the type of cancer and other factors. The survival rates for a specific type of childhood cancer can be found in our information for that cancer type.
After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. About 1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2020.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2020.
Last Medical Review: October 14, 2019 Last Revised: January 8, 2020
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Cancer in Children
- What Are the Differences Between Cancers in Adults and Children?
- Key Statistics for Childhood Cancer
- Types of Cancer that Develop in Children
- Risk Factors and Causes of Childhood Cancer
- Can Childhood Cancers Be Prevented?
- Finding Cancer in Children
- Treating Children with Cancer
- After Treatment for Childhood Cancer
- If Your Child Has Cancer