Denmark has the highest cancer rates in the world, with about 326 people out of every 100,000 developing cancer each year, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.
The country has a good record of diagnosing cancer, but also has high rates of smoking among women and high levels of alcohol consumption. Researchers at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) compiled a league table of national cancer rates, using age-adjusted data from a project by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the WHO. According to the league table, the UK has the 22nd highest cancer rates in the world. In the UK, about 267 in every 100,000 people develop cancer each year, and the country was ranked 33rd in the world for cancers in men and 12th for cancers in women. The table also suggests that the UK is ranked 11th highest in the world for rates of breast cancer, a disease that is often linked to obesity and excessive alcohol consumption.
