Key Statistics for Childhood Cancers
About 10,500 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2021. 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 2021.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2021.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2020.
Last Revised: January 12, 2021
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