Key Statistics for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers

Rates of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer have been rising steadily since the mid-2000s, largely due to an increase in cancers linked with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer estimates for 2026

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States for 2026 are:

• About 60,480 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer
• About 13,150 deaths from oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer

Where in the mouth and throat do these cancers most often occur?

Oral cavity (mouth) and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers occur most often in the following sites:

• The tongue
• The tonsils and oropharynx (the part of the throat behind the mouth)
• The gums, floor of the mouth, and other parts of the mouth

The rest are found in the lips, the minor salivary glands (often on the roof of the mouth), and other sites.

What is the average age of people who get these cancers?

The average age of people diagnosed with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers is 64, but these cancers can occur in young people.

Just over 1 in 5 (20%) of cases occur in people younger than 55.

How common are oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers?

These cancers are more than twice as common in men than in women. They are slightly more common in White people than Black people.

Overall, the lifetime risk of developing oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer is about:

• 1 in 59 for men
• 1 in 139 for women

These are averages, but a number of factors can affect a person’s risk for developing mouth and throat cancer.

Trends for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer

Since the mid-2000s, incidence rates have increased by about 1% per year, mostly because of a rise in cancers linked with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. These HPV-positive cancers tend to act differently than HPV-negative cancers.

To learn more, see Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers.

The death rate for cancers of the mouth and throat increased by 0.7% per year from 2009 through 2022, after decades of decline. This is mainly because of an increase in oropharyngeal cancer mortality of almost 2% per year during that time.

For statistics related to survival, see Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer Survival Rates.

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