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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Estimated New Cases in 2023 19,710

% of All New Cancer Cases 1.0%

Estimated Deaths in 2023 13,270

% of All Cancer Deaths 2.2%

5-Year
Relative Survival

50.8% 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 15.89 15.94 - - 9.84 9.91 34.35% 33.56%
1976 15.61 15.88 - - 10.02 9.79 36.83% 34.03%
1977 15.52 15.83 - - 9.58 9.67 38.04% 34.49%
1978 15.59 15.77 - - 9.55 9.55 36.93% 34.96%
1979 15.44 15.71 - - 9.33 9.44 39.07% 35.43%
1980 15.26 15.66 - - 9.29 9.32 38.37% 35.90%
1981 15.50 15.60 - - 9.23 9.21 39.36% 36.37%
1982 15.39 15.55 - - 9.22 9.09 37.14% 36.85%
1983 15.64 15.49 - - 9.20 9.12 42.17% 37.32%
1984 16.13 15.44 - - 9.11 9.16 38.61% 37.79%
1985 16.64 15.38 - - 9.08 9.19 40.45% 38.26%
1986 14.56 15.33 - - 9.24 9.22 38.02% 38.73%
1987 15.70 15.27 - - 9.18 9.25 37.68% 39.20%
1988 14.83 15.22 - - 9.31 9.28 40.33% 39.67%
1989 15.04 15.16 - - 9.21 9.31 37.29% 40.13%
1990 15.70 15.11 - - 9.33 9.34 41.27% 40.60%
1991 15.97 15.05 - - 9.51 9.38 40.81% 41.07%
1992 15.07 15.00 14.98 15.03 9.46 9.41 42.16% 41.54%
1993 15.30 14.95 15.19 14.89 9.08 9.30 38.68% 42.00%
1994 14.47 14.89 14.38 14.74 9.38 9.19 45.31% 42.47%
1995 14.50 14.84 14.50 14.59 9.12 9.08 42.21% 42.93%
1996 14.21 14.79 14.03 14.45 8.86 8.98 43.31% 43.40%
1997 14.57 14.73 14.04 14.30 8.94 8.87 43.93% 43.86%
1998 14.37 14.68 14.13 14.16 8.73 8.77 46.28% 44.32%
1999 14.77 14.63 14.33 14.02 8.77 8.82 44.48% 44.78%
2000 14.29 14.40 14.16 13.88 8.89 8.87 43.19% 45.24%
2001 14.57 14.18 14.16 13.74 9.00 8.93 46.74% 45.70%
2002 13.84 13.96 13.85 13.61 9.04 8.98 44.36% 46.16%
2003 13.59 13.75 13.46 13.47 8.87 9.04 45.06% 46.61%
2004 13.36 13.54 13.17 13.34 8.78 8.83 45.90% 47.07%
2005 13.17 13.33 13.34 13.21 8.66 8.63 45.79% 47.52%
2006 13.04 13.12 12.89 13.08 8.56 8.44 46.22% 47.97%
2007 12.88 12.92 13.04 12.95 8.25 8.25 44.91% 48.42%
2008 12.82 12.72 12.93 12.82 7.98 8.06 48.05% 48.87%
2009 12.95 12.52 12.68 12.69 7.85 7.88 48.92% 49.32%
2010 12.72 12.33 12.46 12.57 7.80 7.70 47.64% 49.76%
2011 12.17 12.14 12.13 12.44 7.54 7.53 48.95% 50.20%
2012 11.83 11.95 12.37 12.32 7.40 7.36 49.80% 50.65%
2013 11.49 11.77 11.55 11.93 7.20 7.19 52.47% 51.09%
2014 11.58 11.59 11.54 11.55 7.03 7.03 52.37% 51.52%
2015 11.80 11.41 11.89 11.19 6.75 6.87 51.17% 51.96%
2016 10.19 10.81 10.71 10.84 6.77 6.72 - 52.39%
2017 10.31 10.24 10.54 10.49 6.59 6.56 - 52.83%
2018 9.52 9.70 9.97 10.16 6.28 6.32 - 53.26%
2019 9.43 9.19 9.79 9.84 6.01 6.08 - 53.68%
2020 8.99 - 9.08 - 5.91 5.85 - 54.11%

New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality.
All Races, Females. 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 ovarian cancer was 10.3 per 100,000 women per year. The death rate was 6.3 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2016–2020 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 1.1 percent of women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2017–2019 data.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2020, there were an estimated 236,511 women living with ovarian cancer in the United States.

Did You Know? Video Series

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Ovarian 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.

50.8%

5-Year
Relative Survival

50.8%

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

Additional Information

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 ovarian cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For ovarian cancer, 18.2% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized ovarian cancer is 92.4%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Ovarian Cancer
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Localized
Confined to Primary Site		 18% 92.4%
Regional
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes		 20% 72.9%
Distant
Cancer Has Metastasized		 55% 31.5%
Unknown
Unstaged		 6% 36.4%

SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2013–2019, All Races, Females by SEER Combined Summary Stage

Additional Information

New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, ovarian cancer is relatively rare.

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
- - -
18. Ovarian Cancer 19,710 13,270

Ovarian cancer represents 1.0% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

1.0%

In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 19,710 new cases of ovarian cancer and an estimated 13,270 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is rare. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer have an increased risk for the disease. The rate of new cases of ovarian cancer was 10.3 per 100,000 women per year based on 2016–2020 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity: Ovarian Cancer
Males
All Races Sex-specific cancer type
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic White
Females
All Races 10.3
Hispanic 10.0
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 11.3
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 9.3
Non-Hispanic Black 8.9
Non-Hispanic White 10.5

SEER 22 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Ovarian Cancer
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 1.4%
20–34 4.5%
35–44 7.1%
45–54 16.0%
55–64 24.5%
65–74 24.1%
75–84 15.5%
>84 7.0%

Ovarian cancer is most frequently diagnosed among women aged 55–64.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

63

SEER 22 2016–2020, All Races, Females

Who Dies From This Cancer?

For ovarian cancer, death rates generally increase with age. Ovarian cancer is the thirteenth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 6.3 per 100,000 women per year based on 2016–2020, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity: Ovarian Cancer
Males
All Races Sex-specific cancer type
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic White
Females
All Races 6.3
Hispanic 4.9
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 6.4
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 4.4
Non-Hispanic Black 5.7
Non-Hispanic White 6.7

U.S. 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Ovarian Cancer
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<20 0.0%
20–34 0.8%
35–44 2.1%
45–54 8.4%
55–64 21.5%
65–74 29.1%
75–84 24.9%
>84 13.1%

The percent of ovarian cancer deaths is highest among women aged 65–74.

Median Age
At Death

70

U.S. 2016–2020, All Races, Females

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 ovarian cancer cases have been falling on average 3.2% each year over 2010–2019. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 2.8% each year over 2011–2020. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival

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 Ovarian Cancer Statistics

More About This Cancer

Cancer and the Ovary

Figure: Female Reproductive Anatomy

Figure: Anatomy of the female reproductive system; drawing shows the uterus, myometrium (muscular outer layer of the uterus), endometrium (inner lining of the uterus), ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina.

The ovaries are a pair of organs in the female reproductive system. They are in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows). Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries make eggs and female hormones (chemicals that control the way certain cells or organs work).

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about ovarian cancer.

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: Ovarian Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.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.