LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has achieved the lowest cancer mortality rate in the European Union, with a notable 20% decrease in cancer-related deaths over the last decade, according to the latest report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2011, Malta recorded 247 cancer deaths per 100,000 people. By 2021, this figure had dropped to 198 deaths per 100,000, placing the country significantly below the EU average of 235 deaths per 100,000.
Despite these encouraging figures, Malta’s progress is tempered by ongoing challenges in cancer prevention, access to innovative treatments, and healthcare disparities. The OECD’s ‘European Cancer Inequalities Registry 2025’ report highlights that while Malta performs well overall, gaps persist, particularly among lower-income groups and migrant populations.
The report points to Malta’s relatively low cancer incidence, particularly for lung, colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers. Notably, the incidence of cancer among men is 614 per 100,000, well below the EU average of 684. However, women in Malta face a slightly higher cancer incidence rate compared to the EU average, with 494 cases per 100,000, compared to the EU’s 488. The gender gap in cancer incidence in Malta is also smaller than the EU average. Across the EU, there are 40% more cancer cases among men than women, whereas in Malta, the disparity is only 24%.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
