ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck · Understanding the disease

Where in the world is skin cancer of the head and neck most common?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck is not evenly distributed: the highest-burden regions are Australia & New Zealand, North America and Northern & Western Europe. In 2022 there were millions of skin cancers each year worldwide; GLOBOCAN 2022 estimated ASR 3.2 for melanoma of skin and 10.4 for non-melanoma skin cancer per 100,000 worldwide (ASR 3.2 (melanoma) and 10.4 (non-melanoma skin cancer) per 100,000; mortality ASR 0.5 and 0.6 respectively), with marked country-to-country variation driven by local exposures such as tobacco, areca nut, oncogenic viruses, ultraviolet radiation and occupational carcinogens.

In detail

The regional pattern matters clinically. A patient from Australia & New Zealand may present with a different risk-factor profile and a different stage distribution than a patient from a low-incidence country, which changes both the differential diagnosis and the pretreatment work-up.

All incidence figures on this site are age-standardised rates or absolute case counts from GLOBOCAN 2022 and its subsite analyses. They describe populations, not individual risk.

  • Australia & New Zealand: The highest population skin cancer burden in the world, driven by high ambient UV and a predominantly fair-skinned population; head and neck sites are the most commonly treated locations.
  • North America: High melanoma and keratinocyte cancer incidence, particularly in older fair-skinned adults and in states with high UV exposure.
  • Northern & Western Europe: Rising melanoma incidence in fair-skinned populations; intermittent intense sun exposure and tanning-bed use are important drivers.
  • Southern Europe & the Mediterranean: High cumulative sun exposure among outdoor workers, with substantial cSCC and lip cancer burdens.
  • Organ-transplant recipients worldwide: Chronic immunosuppression markedly increases cSCC risk independent of geography, often with multiple and more aggressive head and neck lesions.

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Understanding the disease” section of the Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about skin cancer of the head and neck

See all 14 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. Global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by subsite in 2022 CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · 2026 · Subsite-level estimates for 185 countries; the basis of the regional atlas on this site.
  2. Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2022 · Source of worldwide and country-level incidence and mortality estimates.
  3. Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 5th Edition (GLOBOCAN 2022 tables) American Cancer Society · 2024
  4. Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 5th Edition (GLOBOCAN 2022 tables) American Cancer Society · 2024
  5. Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer (fact sheet) World Health Organization · 2024
  6. Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2022 · Source of worldwide and country-level incidence and mortality estimates.
  7. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Head and Neck Cancers National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2025

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.