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Infections caused an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024—about 12% of the total, or roughly one in eight, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus can prevent some infection-related cancers, but it does not prevent every cancer linked to an infection. If you are eligible, follow your local vaccination guidance; HPV vaccination does not replace cervical screening.
What “one in eight” means
The estimate describes the share of new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 attributed to infections. It is a population-level estimate, not an individual’s chance of developing cancer. IARC reported the analysis on 29 September 2026; it was published online in The Lancet Oncology on 28 September 2026. IARC’s 2024 estimate
The figure is broader than HPV alone. IARC’s analysis included multiple infectious agents and cancer associations, including HIV and Merkel cell polyomavirus, as well as additional cancer types associated with known carcinogenic infections, such as Epstein–Barr virus and stomach cancer.
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A separate WHO/IARC analysis estimated that infections accounted for 10% of new cancer cases in 2022. That analysis examined nine infectious agents among 30 modifiable risk factors, across 36 cancer types and 185 countries. It is a different estimate for a different year and study scope, not an earlier point in a directly comparable time series. The same analysis attributed 37% of new cancer cases in 2022—about 7.1 million cases—to preventable causes overall, including factors beyond infection. WHO/IARC’s 2022 risk-factor analysis
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How vaccination can lower cancer risk
Some viruses can cause cancers. Vaccines against HPV and hepatitis B can prevent infection with cancer-causing virus types and thereby prevent some cancers. IARC reported that, in 2020, almost 750,000 cancer cases were attributable to HPV and almost 400,000 to hepatitis B virus. Those are attribution estimates for 2020, not counts of cancers that vaccination would necessarily have prevented. IARC on HPV and hepatitis B vaccination
WHO advises vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B for people in groups for whom vaccination is recommended. Eligibility, ages and schedules depend on local public-health guidance; check your national health authority or ask a qualified healthcare professional rather than relying on a universal schedule. WHO/IARC recommendations and analysis
Vaccination and cervical screening do different jobs
Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV vaccination protects against high-risk HPV types, while cervical screening looks for disease so it can be detected early. They are complementary prevention measures: vaccination does not remove the need to follow local screening recommendations. IARC on cervical cancer prevention
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe scale of cervical cancer underscores the importance of both measures. IARC estimates that 600,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide in 2024 and about 280,000 died; roughly 90% of incidence and deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. These figures describe cervical cancer specifically and are not the denominator behind the one-in-eight estimate. IARC’s cervical cancer figures
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do
- Check whether you are eligible for HPV or hepatitis B vaccination. Use current guidance from your national or local health authority, or ask a healthcare professional.
- If you have a cervix, check your local cervical screening guidance. Vaccination does not replace screening, and recommendations can vary by jurisdiction.
- Keep the numbers in perspective. The one-in-eight estimate concerns worldwide new cases in 2024; your personal care decisions depend on your circumstances and local medical guidance.
This is general prevention information, not individualized medical advice.
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