The diagnosed incident cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the eight major markets (8MM*) are projected to increase at an annual growth rate (AGR) of 2.06%, from over 306,000 in 2024 to approximately 370,000 by 2034, according to  GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): Epidemiology Report and Forecast”, estimates that the five-year diagnosed prevalent cases of HCC to increase at an AGR of 2.13%, from 750,000 in 2024 to over 910,000 in 2034. China will have the highest number of diagnosed incident cases of HCC in the 8MM in 2034, with approximately 264,000 cases, whereas the UK will have the fewest with approximately 4,200 cases. This distribution is similar for five-year diagnosed prevalent cases of HCC, where China will also have the highest number, with approximately 702,000 cases, and the UK will have the fewest, at approximately 4,300 cases.

Molly Moran, Senior Epidemiologist at GlobalData, comments: “Decades of decline in HCC incidence rates are slowing due to a variety of factors. This historical decrease was largely due to changes in the global patterns of the major risk factors for HCC, such as decreasing hepatitis B infection rates due to mass vaccination and decreasing hepatitis C infection rates due to the introduction of antiviral agents.”

Recent plateaus in incidence rates may be due to increased obesity rates worldwide and changes in alcohol consumption patterns. Regardless of cause, cases of HCC are increasing, and this is cause for concern.

Moran concludes: “Early detection of liver damage will be crucial in slowing the increase in HCC cases across the 8MM, as well as preventing loss of life and reducing the high healthcare costs associated with treating HCC.”

*8MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and China.

**5EU: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK