Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Estimated New Cases in 2023 80,550

% of All New Cancer Cases 4.1%

Estimated Deaths in 2023 20,180

% of All Cancer Deaths 3.3%

5-Year
Relative Survival

74.3% 2013–2019
Year Rate of New Cases — SEER 8 Rate of New Cases — SEER 12 Death Rate — U.S. 5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 11.02 10.77 - - 5.63 5.50 46.60% 47.70%
1976 11.46 11.16 - - 5.71 5.64 48.30% 48.45%
1977 11.38 11.56 - - 5.77 5.77 45.24% 49.20%
1978 11.59 11.98 - - 5.93 5.92 48.12% 49.94%
1979 12.70 12.42 - - 5.95 6.06 47.84% 50.68%
1980 12.58 12.87 - - 6.23 6.21 49.05% 51.41%
1981 13.78 13.34 - - 6.16 6.36 50.81% 52.14%
1982 13.10 13.82 - - 6.55 6.52 50.61% 52.86%
1983 13.81 14.32 - - 6.66 6.68 52.57% 53.58%
1984 15.12 14.84 - - 6.76 6.84 52.48% 53.30%
1985 15.40 15.38 - - 7.06 7.01 53.10% 53.01%
1986 16.13 15.94 - - 7.31 7.19 51.42% 52.73%
1987 16.79 16.52 - - 7.26 7.36 52.64% 52.44%
1988 17.36 17.12 - - 7.52 7.54 50.86% 52.15%
1989 17.49 17.74 - - 7.83 7.73 49.88% 51.87%
1990 18.55 18.38 - - 7.87 7.92 50.17% 51.58%
1991 18.68 19.05 - - 8.19 8.11 51.03% 51.29%
1992 18.89 19.16 18.70 19.01 8.22 8.24 50.98% 51.00%
1993 19.06 19.27 18.63 19.09 8.25 8.38 53.28% 50.71%
1994 20.00 19.39 19.56 19.17 8.63 8.51 52.81% 52.94%
1995 20.17 19.50 19.86 19.26 8.72 8.65 52.98% 55.12%
1996 19.44 19.61 19.46 19.34 8.75 8.79 56.69% 57.24%
1997 19.81 19.73 19.33 19.42 8.88 8.93 60.52% 59.30%
1998 19.73 19.84 19.41 19.50 8.69 8.65 61.44% 61.29%
1999 19.92 19.96 19.78 19.59 8.32 8.39 63.31% 63.23%
2000 19.61 20.07 19.26 19.67 8.17 8.13 64.65% 65.09%
2001 19.93 20.19 19.62 19.76 7.91 7.88 66.86% 66.89%
2002 20.23 20.31 19.69 19.84 7.65 7.63 70.42% 68.61%
2003 20.36 20.42 19.94 19.93 7.38 7.40 70.63% 70.27%
2004 21.08 20.54 20.53 20.01 7.09 7.17 70.88% 70.76%
2005 20.75 20.66 20.05 20.10 6.95 6.94 72.32% 71.24%
2006 20.32 20.78 19.96 20.18 6.74 6.73 71.20% 71.72%
2007 21.27 20.90 20.45 20.27 6.59 6.58 72.23% 72.19%
2008 21.07 21.03 20.40 20.36 6.41 6.43 73.57% 72.65%
2009 20.94 20.83 20.68 20.44 6.30 6.29 75.15% 73.10%
2010 21.03 20.64 20.59 20.24 6.14 6.15 75.08% 73.56%
2011 19.56 20.45 19.20 20.04 6.03 6.01 74.70% 74.00%
2012 20.37 20.26 19.61 19.85 5.91 5.88 75.87% 74.44%
2013 19.53 20.07 19.28 19.65 5.71 5.75 76.26% 74.87%
2014 20.30 19.88 19.92 19.46 5.66 5.62 76.46% 75.30%
2015 19.90 19.70 19.44 19.27 5.48 5.50 77.82% 75.72%
2016 19.43 19.51 19.17 19.08 5.38 5.38 - 76.13%
2017 19.50 19.33 18.83 18.89 5.31 5.26 - 76.54%
2018 19.29 19.15 18.70 18.70 5.13 5.14 - 76.94%
2019 18.75 18.97 18.50 18.52 5.02 5.02 - 77.34%
2020 17.58 - 17.18 - 4.88 4.91 - 77.73%

New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality.
All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted.
Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.
The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data

New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.


Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was 18.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 5.1 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2016–2020 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 2.1 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at some point during their lifetime, based on 2017–2019 data.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2020, there were an estimated 788,781 people living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States.

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

74.3%

5-Year
Relative Survival

74.3%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2013–2019. Gray figures represent those who have died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. The earlier non-Hodgkin lymphoma is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 22.2% are diagnosed at stage I. The 5-year relative survival for stage I non-Hodgkin lymphoma is 86.2%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Stage I
Confined to Single Region
22% 86.2%
Stage II
Involving Mulitple Regions
15% 78.9%
Stage III
Spread to Both Sides of Diaphragm
18% 73.3%
Stage IV
Diffuse or Disseminated Involvement
35% 64.2%
Unknown
Unstaged
9% 70.7%

SEER 17 2013–2019, All Races, Both Sexes by Ann Arbor Stage.
Statistics by stage only include cases coded as Lymhpoma or Lymphoma-CLL/SLL in EOD 2018 schema definitions.

New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is fairly common.

Rank Common Types of Cancer Estimated New
Cases 2023
Estimated
Deaths 2023
1. Breast Cancer (Female) 297,790 43,170
2. Prostate Cancer 288,300 34,700
3. Lung and Bronchus Cancer 238,340 127,070
4. Colorectal Cancer 153,020 52,550
5. Melanoma of the Skin 97,610 7,990
6. Bladder Cancer 82,290 16,710
7. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 81,800 14,890
8. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 80,550 20,180
9. Uterine Cancer 66,200 13,030
10. Pancreatic Cancer 64,050 50,550

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma represents 4.1% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

4.1%

In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 80,550 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and an estimated 20,180 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in men than women, and among individuals of Caucasian descent. The rate of new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was 18.7 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Males
All Races 22.5
Hispanic 20.0
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 18.1
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 16.0
Non-Hispanic Black 17.3
Non-Hispanic White 24.3
Females
All Races 15.5
Hispanic 15.1
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 12.9
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 11.3
Non-Hispanic Black 12.1
Non-Hispanic White 16.5

SEER 22 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 1.5%
20–34 3.6%
35–44 4.9%
45–54 10.4%
55–64 21.0%
65–74 27.8%
75–84 21.6%
>84 9.2%

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65–74.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

68

SEER 22 2016–2020, All Races, Both Sexes

Who Dies From This Cancer?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the eighth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 5.1 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 deaths, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Males
All Races 6.7
Hispanic 5.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 6.4
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 4.6
Non-Hispanic Black 5.1
Non-Hispanic White 7.1
Females
All Races 3.9
Hispanic 3.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 3.3
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 2.8
Non-Hispanic Black 3.0
Non-Hispanic White 4.1

U.S. 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<20 0.3%
20–34 1.0%
35–44 1.6%
45–54 4.3%
55–64 13.0%
65–74 24.8%
75–84 31.5%
>84 23.4%

The percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma deaths is highest among people aged 75–84.

Median Age
At Death

76

U.S. 2016–2020, All Races, Both Sexes

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases have been falling on average 0.9% each year over 2010–2019. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 2.2% each year over 2011–2020. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

Interactive Statistics with SEER*Explorer

With SEER*Explorer, you can...
  • Create custom graphs and tables
  • Download data and images
  • Share links to results

SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.

Explore Additional Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Statistics

More About This Cancer

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Figure: Lymph Nodes Above and Below the Diaphragm

Figure: This picture shows lymph nodes above and below the diaphragm. It also shows the lymph vessels, tonsils, thymus, and spleen.

Lymphoma is cancer that begins in cells of the lymph system. The lymph system is part of the immune system, which helps the body fight infection and disease. Because lymph tissue is found all through the body, lymphoma can begin almost anywhere.

The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). These can occur in both children and adults.

There are many different types of NHL that form from different types of white blood cells (B-cells, T-cells, NK cells). Most types of NHL form from B-cells. NHL may be indolent (slow-growing) or aggressive (fast-growing). The most common types of NHL in adults are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is usually aggressive, and follicular lymphoma, which is usually indolent.

Additional Information

Related Stat Facts by Subtype

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/nhl.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2023 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.