Childhood Cancer Key Statistics

Learn about key statistics for childhood cancer, including how common it is, who is most affected, and the outlook for those with a cancer diagnosis.

How common is childhood cancer?

In 2026, about 9,680 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer. An estimated 200,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer worldwide.

The most common cancers in children are:

• Leukemias
• Brain tumors
• Lymphomas

Who is most affected by childhood cancer?

Some factors affect the likelihood of developing certain types of childhood cancer.

Sex

Some cancers are more common in male children. These include acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), lymphoma, hepatoblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Other cancers are more common in female children. These include thyroid cancers, Wilms tumor, germ cell tumors, and melanoma.

Age

Certain childhood cancers are more likely to affect infants and younger children. These include retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, and Wilms tumor.

Other tumors may be more likely in school-aged children or adolescents, such as lymphomas, germ cell tumors, or thyroid cancers.

Race and ethnicity

In older people, Black Americans have a higher chance of developing cancer. However, White Americans have the highest rates of childhood cancer overall.

Certain childhood cancers may be more or less likely depending on a child’s race or ethnicity. For example:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is most common in Hispanic children and least common among Black children.
• Acute myeloid leukemia is slightly more common in American Indian and Asian and Pacific Islander children.
• Brain tumors are most common in White children and significantly less common among other racial groups.
• Lymphomas are slightly more common in White children than other racial groups.

What are causes of childhood cancer?

The cause of most childhood cancers is not known. In about 1 in 12 childhood cancers, cancer is caused by a gene change. These changes happen very early in development (before birth) or they are passed on in the family. These are known as family cancer syndromes. They might increase the risk of other cancers later in life.

While the risk for many adult cancers can be reduced with lifestyle changes, these factors do not play a major role in childhood cancers.

What is the outlook for those with childhood cancer?

The outlook (prognosis) for children with cancer depends on many factors. These include the type of cancer, the child’s age, genetics, and if the cancer has spread. However, overall, about 85% of children with cancer live 5 years or more.

For some childhood cancers, such as ALL and Hodgkin lymphoma, rates of being cured are even higher. Researchers are looking for new and better ways to treat these cancers with fewer side effects.

Despite improvements in treating childhood cancer, it remains one of the leading causes of death for children in the United States. Each and every day, research is being done to improve outcomes for children with cancer.