It is increasingly common to encounter instances of cancer among relatives, neighbors, and within the broader community. Malignant cancers are characterized by their propensity to metastasize to adjacent organs, thereby exacerbating the severity of the disease. A 2019 study by Werissaw Haileselassie highlighted cancer as an “alarmingly growing burden in Ethiopia.” Globally, 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths were reported in 2022, with 75 percent of these fatalities occurring in low and middle-income countries. The World Health Organization estimates that the lifetime risk of developing cancer is one in five individuals worldwide.
For instance, regarding severity and magnitude, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Diseases report indicates a substantial increase in cancer cases in Ethiopia over the past three decades, specifically from 1990 to 2023. Females disproportionately experience the highest burden of cancer, with breast cancer being the most prevalent, followed by cervical cancer. According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN report, new cancer cases among children aged 0-19 and 0-14 were 5,842 and 4,119 respectively. The most common cases identified were Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Wilms tumor, and neuroblastoma.
According to the 2024/25 Ministry of Health reports, the predominant cancer diagnoses within Ethiopian healthcare facilities were, in descending order, breast, cervical, esophageal, hematological, and prostate cancers. A disaggregation of these cases by sex reveals that malignant unspecified breast, cervical, specified and unspecified ovarian, and uterine cancers were the most frequently observed conditions among females.
Similarly, malignant cancers of the prostate, testis, and scrotum represent the leading cancer cases among males nationally. In 2022, the World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory reported 80,334 new cancer cases in the general population, with 27,713 among males and 52,621 among females. During the same year, 54,698 deaths were reported. Breast cancer is identified as the tenth leading cause of female mortality in Ethiopia. Further disaggregation of prevalence by age reveals that individuals aged 30 to 64 years bear the highest burden of malignant cancer cases in Ethiopia, as per the Ministry of Health. For example, an analysis of the Ethiopian cancer registry over a decade indicates a median age of 50 years for cancer diagnosis.
What are the contributing factors to the rise in cancer diagnoses?
Consistent with the risk factors associated with other chronic non-communicable diseases, the following elements contribute to the escalating incidence of cancer in Ethiopia. Firstly, the prevalence of cancer risk factors has notably expanded and intensified across Ethiopia over recent decades. The Ministry of Health identified eleven distinct risk factors for cancer in Ethiopia as of 2025. These include a national tobacco use prevalence of 3.8 percent, harmful alcohol consumption evident in 20.1 percent of the population, with 7.9 percent categorized as heavy drinkers. Additionally, the national prevalence of khat use in Ethiopia was 23.4 percent in 2024, with one-third of these individuals also consuming alcohol.
Furthermore, approximately one-third (27.9 percent) of Ethiopian adults engaged in insufficient physical activity. Similarly, the daily salt intake among individuals over 15 years of age in Ethiopia was 9.4 grams, significantly exceeding the recommended intake of less than 5 grams. Additionally, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption was observed, with an average of 2.2 days per week for vegetable intake in Ethiopia, although this has shown improvement over the past decade. Moreover, 10.9 percent of adults were classified as obese or overweight. Another identified risk factor was elevated total cholesterol levels; however, 98.3 percent of the population in Ethiopia had not had their blood cholesterol measured. Four out of ten individuals (39.6 percent) received a diagnosis of elevated blood pressure from healthcare professionals and initiated medication. Finally, a national survey indicated that approximately 4.6 percent of the population in Ethiopia reported a history of cardiovascular diseases.
Second, despite cancer being a chronic disease with a significant latency period, its symptomatic manifestation has noticeably increased within the community. The severity of these symptoms often compels individuals to seek medical attention, thereby contributing to the elevated presence of cancer cases in healthcare facilities and across the nation.
Third, there has been a substantial enhancement in the capabilities of medical professionals and healthcare providers in Ethiopia regarding the identification and diagnosis of illnesses. This progress is substantiated by the initiation and growth of specialized oncology training programs and the expansion of oncology units. Evidence for this includes the establishment of thirty cancer treatment centers and seven dedicated oncology centers and specialty training institutions, as reported by the Ministry of Health in 2024.
These developments have significantly augmented the diagnostic capacity of healthcare professionals. This advancement has been further supported by the expansion of oncology diagnostics, including histology and pathophysiology diagnostic capabilities, as well as the increased availability of diagnostic and therapeutic drugs, supplies, and equipment such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans, MRIs, various scopes, radiotherapy, chemotherapies, and oncology surgical interventions.
However, considering the evolving disease burden, the nation’s population size, and the recent surge in cases, significant shortages necessitate immediate intervention (MoH, 2025). This observation has been corroborated by private hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Nevertheless, access to palliative care for cancer and psychosocial support remains limited due to affordability constraints.
Fourth, heightened awareness regarding cancer cases has led to an increase in individuals seeking medical attention at healthcare facilities. This trend can also be attributed to the proactive increase in medical check-ups across the country.
Fifth, the heightened reporting of cancer cases over the past few years is evident through the establishment and operationalization of a cancer registry in Ethiopia. Globally, there are over 700 cancer registries. Sixth, Ethiopian medical professionals have significantly advanced their histological, pathophysiological, and clinical detection capabilities for cancer within the country in recent years.
Seventh, the community’s health-seeking behavior has improved, attributable to enhanced education and health outcomes. For example, as per the EDHS 2024/2025 report, this can be further substantiated by Ethiopia’s educational transformation. This, in turn, has led to an increased propensity for healthcare-seeking within the community, particularly among individuals experiencing cancer-related symptoms. The increased availability of services has demonstrably attracted a greater number of clients to cancer care, indicating a clear improvement over the past two decades. However, a national study revealed that only 25 percent of health facilities in Ethiopia offered cancer services.
Despite advancements, a significant number of cancer diagnoses, such as those observed at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, occur at advanced stages following prolonged symptomatic periods. Multiple research studies show that the average age of esophageal cancer patients at St. Paul Hospital was documented as 57 years. Additionally, at Jimma Medical Center Hospital, one-third of cancer diagnoses were identified at Stage II. However, financial constraints have limited access to healthcare services, particularly cancer care.
Eighth, the Ministry of Health acknowledges cancer as a significant clinical and public health burden and has consequently planned to reduce premature mortality due to cancer in Ethiopia by 15 percent by 2030.
However, the diagnosis of cancer by middle and low-level healthcare workers should be interpreted with caution, and necessary capacity training should be fostered to address the low detection rate and high reporting. In addition, according to the report of the Ethiopian Digital Health Information, two reports of cancer cases labeled as ‘unspecified cancer’ or ‘unspecified neoplasms’ need further national investigation, research, and identification or specification with state-of-the-art physicians and technologies.
Therefore, prioritizing the reduction of risk factors is crucial for primary prevention. Furthermore, it is essential to enhance early cancer awareness, facilitate regular screenings, ensure timely diagnoses, provide optimal treatment services, offer high-quality palliative care, and implement psychosocial support programs, all based on the most current evidence. Accessible and decentralized comprehensive cancer services should be made available to the community. Additionally, stakeholders and the community must collaborate to achieve the Ministry of Health’s new cancer strategic control plan for 2025-2029. Particular attention should be directed towards the adoption of leading global cancer prevention and control initiatives. As highlighted by The Lancet Oncology in February 2026, “cancer [is] another casualty of geopolitical unrest?” if countries are not adequately prepared and equipped to prevent, detect, and treat it.
Contributed by Bedilu Abebe
