At a Glance

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of ovarian cancer was 10.2 per 100,000 women per year. The death rate was 6.0 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and 2018–2022 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 2018–2021 data, excluding 2020 due to COVID.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2021, there were an estimated 238,484 women living with ovarian cancer in the United States.

Did You Know? Video Series

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.

5-Year
Relative Survival

50.9%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from ovarian 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 islocalized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage isregional ordistant. The earlier ovarian cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For ovarian cancer, 19.0% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized ovarian cancer is 91.9%.

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, ovarian 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
	-	-	-
18.	Ovarian Cancer	19,680	12,740

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

1.0%

In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 19,680 new cases of ovarian cancer and an estimated 12,740 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 10.2 per 100,000 women per year based on 2017–2021 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	10.2
Hispanic	10.0
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	11.6
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	9.4
Non-Hispanic Black	8.9
Non-Hispanic White	10.4

• 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?

For ovarian cancer, death rates generally increase with age. Ovarian cancer is the fourteenth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 6.0 per 100,000 women per year based on 2018–2022, 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	6.0
Hispanic	4.8
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	6.2
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	4.3
Non-Hispanic Black	5.5
Non-Hispanic White	6.3

• 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 ovarian cancer cases have been falling on average 2.7% each year over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 2.4% each year over 2013–2022. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

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

• Learn more about ovarian cancer

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about ovarian cancer.

• More about risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for ovarian cancer
• More about clinical trials
• More 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 withinSEER*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, browseSEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to theState Cancer Profiles.

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

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2024 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.