Background: Cancer has become a leading cause of death worldwide, including in Iraq, where cancer incidence and mortality have increased steadily over recent decades. Understanding recent mortality trends is essential for national cancer control planning.

Objective: To describe the pattern of cancer mortality in Iraq based on the most recent data released by the Iraqi Ministry of Health in 2025 and to place these findings in historical and regional context. Methods: Official data on cancer mortality released in 2025, primarily based on cases recorded in 2022, were analyzed by gender and cancer site. Historical information and regional/global statistics from WHO and international cancer registries were used for comparison and interpretation. 

Results: Cancer mortality in Iraq was dominated by lung cancer in males (21%) and breast cancer in females (22%). Other leading causes of cancer death among males were brain (9%), pancreas (7%), liver (6%), prostate (6%), and bladder (6%) cancers. Among females, lung (11%), brain (8%), pancreas (5%), liver (5%), and colorectal (5%) cancers were most frequent. The mortality structure aligns with global patterns but shows relatively high proportions of lung and breast cancer deaths compared with neighboring countries. The mortality profile demonstrates both continuity and evolution compared to previous decades. 

Conclusion: Cancer mortality in Iraq remains a major public health concern. Targeted prevention strategies, nationwide screening programs, and equitable oncology services are crucial to reduce avoidable deaths. Iraq’s half-century cancer data provide a valuable framework for designing evidence-based cancer control policies.

Cancer isone of the foremost public health challenges globally and is increasingly so in Iraq. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide (~1.8 million deaths, or ~18.7% of all cancer deaths), followed by colorectal, liver, breast, and stomach cancers. In women, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality, while in men; lung cancer typically occupies that position. In the Eastern Mediterranean and Arab region, including Iraq, cancer incidence and mortality have been rising steadily. In the Arab world, breast cancer is by far the most prevalent cancer, followed by lung, colorectal, cervical, and prostate cancers. The region is projected to experience a nearly 1.8-fold increase in cancer incidence by 2030 due to demographic changes (aging and population growth), lifestyle factors (tobacco use, dietary shifts, and physical inactivity), environmental exposures, and limitations in early detection and healthcare infrastructure [1-5]. For Iraq, a steady increase in cancer incidence and mortality over the past decades has been reported. Earlier age-standardized rates were relatively low, but by 2018 the incidence rate had reached 82.6 per 100,000 population. The Iraqi cancer profile has also evolved with lung, breast, and colorectal cancers replacing bladder and skin cancers as dominant causes of death underscoring the importance of continuous monitoring and national cancer control strategies [1].

This analysis examined official unpublished data released by the Iraqi Ministry of Health in 2025. Most of the underlying data were collected during 2022 and provide national mortality statistics by cancer site and gender.

Cancer mortality in Iraq during was dominated by lung cancer in males and breast cancer in females.  The top ten causes of cancer deaths in males were: lung (21%), brain (9%), pancreas (7%), liver (6%), prostate (6%), bladder (6%), colon (5%), stomach (5%), leukemia (4%), and larynx (2%).  In females, the leading sites were: breast (22%), lung (11%), brain (8%), pancreas (5%), liver (5%), colon (5%), stomach (5%), ovary (3%), leukemia (3%), and bladder (2%). Lung cancer alone accounted for over one-fifth of male cancer deaths, while breast cancer represented more than one-fifth of female cancer deaths. These findings are consistent with global and regional trends, although Iraq demonstrates a relatively higher burden of lung and breast cancer compared to some neighboring countries

Table-1A: Cancer Mortality (Males)

The current cancer mortality profile in Iraq shows both continuity and change when compared with data from previous decades. Historically, bladder and skin cancers were among the most frequent malignancies in the 1970s and 1980s, but the modern era has witnessed a rise in lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. The incidence of malignant diseases increased from 38.9 per 100,000 in 1994 to over 82 per 100,000 by 2018. This rise reflects a combination of factors including an aging population, urbanization, environmental exposures, and lifestyle changes such as smoking and diet. A steady rise in the incidence of malignant diseases, from 38.9 per 100,000 population in 1994 to over 82 per 100,000 by 2018 [1]. This rise can be attributed to multiple factors, including aging population, environmental exposure, and lifestyle changes such as smoking and diet. Despite significant advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the mortality data reveal that many patients in Iraq still present at advanced stages, emphasizing the importance of public health strategies focused on prevention, early detection, and accessible oncology services across all provinces. When compared to other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), Iraq’s cancer mortality structure shows similarities but also distinctive features. For instance, Saudi Arabia and Jordan report rising incidence of breast, colorectal, and thyroid cancers, while Egypt and Lebanon face increasing rates of liver and lung cancers. 

Iraq, however, exhibits a relatively high proportion of lug