Breast cancer survival rates show stark gap between rich and poor nations
Women in high-income countries survive breast cancer at nearly double the rate of those in low-income nations.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women globally, with 2.4 million diagnosed in 2024. The World Health Organization is marking this month to push for equal access to care.
A vast gap persists: 87% of women in wealthy nations survive at least five years after diagnosis, compared with just 41% in low-income countries. Around 70% of breast cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income nations, where access to early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment remains more limited.
Most women who develop breast cancer, about 80%, have no family history or known risk factors beyond age and sex. Knowing the warning signs and seeking prompt care when symptoms appear can improve outcomes.
Why it mattersAccess to diagnosis and treatment still depends on where you live. The WHO says closing this gap could prevent 2.5 million deaths by 2040.
AustraliaAustralian women have access to screening, diagnosis and treatment comparable to other high-income nations. But the disparity highlights how many women worldwide lack the same care.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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