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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesInfections caused an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024—about 12%, or roughly one in eight, of all new cases, 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. Whether vaccination is recommended for you depends on local guidance, and HPV vaccination does not replace cervical screening.
What “one in eight” means—and what it does not
The estimate is about the share of new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 attributed to infections. It is not an estimate that one in eight people will develop cancer, nor a measure of any one person’s personal risk. IARC’s analysis was published online in The Lancet Oncology on 28 September 2026 and described in an agency release the following day. IARC’s 2024 estimate
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The estimate is also broader than HPV. The analysis includes multiple infectious agents and cancer associations, including HIV and Merkel cell polyomavirus, and additional cancer types linked to known carcinogenic infections, such as Epstein–Barr virus and stomach cancer. The result is an estimate of cancer burden attributable to infections across populations—not a claim that every cancer in the count could have been prevented with a vaccine.
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Why another infection-related cancer estimate says 10%
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, 36 cancer types and 185 countries. Its year and scope differ from the 2024 IARC estimate, so the 10% and 12% figures should not be treated as points in a single like-for-like trend. The same 2022 assessment attributed 37% of new cancer cases—around 7.1 million cases—to preventable causes overall, a broader category than infections alone. WHO/IARC analysis of preventable cancer causes
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How vaccination can reduce some cancer risk
HPV and hepatitis B are viruses that can cause infections associated with certain cancers. Vaccines can prevent infection with these viruses and, as a result, prevent some cancers linked to them. IARC reported that almost 750,000 new cancer cases in 2020 were attributable to HPV infection and almost 400,000 to hepatitis B virus infection. Those are 2020 attribution figures, not a count of cases prevented by vaccination. IARC on cancer prevention through vaccination
WHO advises vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B for people in groups for whom vaccination is recommended. Eligibility, timing and doses depend on the country and applicable clinical guidance; there is no single schedule that can safely be assumed for every reader. Check your national or local health authority’s current recommendations or ask a healthcare professional. WHO recommendations and analysis
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HPV 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 helps detect disease early. They are complementary: vaccination does not make screening unnecessary. Follow the cervical-screening guidance that applies where you live, including if you have been vaccinated. IARC on cervical cancer
The worldwide burden remains substantial. IARC estimates that 600,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2024 and about 280,000 died; roughly 90% of cervical cancer incidence and mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries. These figures describe cervical cancer specifically and are not the denominator behind the estimate that infections caused 12% of all new cancers. IARC cervical cancer figures
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical next steps
- Check vaccination recommendations. Look up your local health authority’s current advice on HPV and hepatitis B vaccination, or ask a healthcare professional whether it applies to you.
- Keep up with cervical screening if it applies to you. Use your local guidance for when and how to screen; vaccination is not a substitute.
- Read global percentages as population estimates. Your own care and eligibility depend on individual circumstances and local clinical guidance.
This is general prevention information, not individualized medical advice. The statistics and recommendations above are global; they do not establish a vaccination schedule or eligibility rule for a particular country.
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