Cancer Stat Facts: Esophageal Cancer

At a Glance

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of esophageal cancer was 4.2 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 3.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and 2018–2022 deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 0.5 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with esophageal cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2018–2021 data, excluding 2020 due to COVID.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2021, there were an estimated 51,185 people living with esophageal cancer in the United States.

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How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer?

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.

5-Year
Relative Survival

21.6%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from esophageal cancer. 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. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier esophageal cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For esophageal cancer, 18.2% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized esophageal cancer is 48.1%.

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, esophageal cancer is relatively rare.

Rank	Common Types of Cancer	Estimated New Cases 2024	Estimated Deaths 2024
1.	Breast Cancer (Female)	310,720	42,250
2.	Prostate Cancer	299,010	35,250
3.	Lung and Bronchus Cancer	234,580	125,070
4.	Colorectal Cancer	152,810	53,010
5.	Melanoma of the Skin	100,640	8,290
6.	Bladder Cancer	83,190	16,840
7.	Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer	81,610	14,390
8.	Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma	80,620	20,140
9.	Uterine Cancer	67,880	13,250
10.	Pancreatic Cancer	66,440	51,750
	-	-	-
17.	Esophageal Cancer	22,370	16,130

Esophageal cancer represents 1.1% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

1.1%

In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 22,370 new cases of esophageal cancer and an estimated 16,130 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Esophageal cancer is more common in men than women, and it is associated with older age, heavy alcohol use and tobacco use. The rate of new cases of esophageal cancer was 4.2 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Esophageal Cancer

Males

All Races	7.1
Hispanic	4.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	9.0
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	3.6
Non-Hispanic Black	5.2
Non-Hispanic White	8.3

Females

All Races	1.7
Hispanic	1.0
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	2.2
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	1.0
Non-Hispanic Black	1.9
Non-Hispanic White	1.9

• All Races
• Hispanic
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/
  Alaska Native
• Non-Hispanic Asian /
  Pacific Islander
• Non-Hispanic Black
• Non-Hispanic White

SEER 22 2017–2021, Age-Adjusted

Who Dies From This Cancer?

Esophageal cancer is the eleventh leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 3.7 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2018–2022 deaths, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Esophageal Cancer

Males

All Races	6.5
Hispanic	3.4
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	6.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	2.6
Non-Hispanic Black	4.5
Non-Hispanic White	7.5

Females

All Races	1.4
Hispanic	0.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	1.6
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	0.7
Non-Hispanic Black	1.5
Non-Hispanic White	1.5

• All Races
• Hispanic
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/
  Alaska Native
• Non-Hispanic Asian /
  Pacific Islander
• Non-Hispanic Black
• Non-Hispanic White

U.S. 2018–2022, Age-Adjusted

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 esophageal cancer cases have been falling on average 0.7% each year over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 1.1% each year over 2013–2022. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

Cancer and the Esophagus

Figure: Anatomy of the Digestive System

Figure: Gastrointestinal (digestive) system anatomy; shows esophagus, liver, stomach, large intestine, and small intestine.

Esophageal cancer starts at the inside lining of the esophagus and spreads outward through the other layers as it grows. The two most common forms of esophageal cancer are:

• Squamous cell carcinoma that forms in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the esophagus. This cancer is most often found in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, but can occur anywhere along the esophagus. This is also called epidermoid carcinoma.
• Adenocarcinoma that begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells in the lining of the esophagus produce and release fluids such as mucus. Adenocarcinomas usually form in the lower part of the esophagus, near the stomach.

Additional Information

• Learn more about esophageal cancer

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about esophageal cancer.

• About risk factors for esophageal cancer
• About symptoms and diagnosis of esophageal cancer
• About treatment options for esophageal cancer
• About clinical trials
• About cancer prevention

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: Esophageal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html