Breast cancer statistics

Statistics help us understand who is at risk for breast cancer, where more resources are needed, and how efforts to improve screening, treatment, and care are working. They give us some idea of what to expect from different diagnoses and they help guide treatment decisions.

On this page, we share statistics to answer some of the most common questions and to present a general picture of what breast cancer in the U.S. looks like today, to the best of our understanding. Since 1989, the mortality rate for breast cancer has been declining. But over the last 20 years, the rate of people diagnosed with breast cancer has been rising at about 1% per year. There are more than four million people estimated to be living with and beyond breast cancer in the U.S. today.

As helpful as statistics can be, it’s important to know that these numbers describe the likelihood of certain breast cancer risks and outcomes in large populations. The numbers don’t determine what will happen to you personally. It’s important to talk with your doctor about your individual situation.

Breast cancer incidence in the U.S.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer diagnoses for women living in the U.S. In this section, we’ll share some recent trends: how many people are expected to be diagnosed this year, how likely a woman of average risk is to develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and how these numbers compare with other cancer diagnoses.

While the numbers provide a snapshot of breast cancer in the U.S, there are many individual risk factors that are not captured in national statistics. These can include family history, inherited gene changes, and previous radiation to the chest.

• Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women in the U.S., making up about 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women each year. (ACS, 2025)
• In 2024, an estimated 310,720 cases of invasive breast cancer, along with an estimated 56,500 new cases of noninvasive breast cancer, called ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. 2,790 breast cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in men. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• As of January 2025, it is estimated that there are more than four million women living with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2025)
• The average risk of a woman in the U.S. developing breast cancer in her lifetime is about 1 in 8, or about 13%. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• The median age at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis in the U.S. is 62. (ACS, 2024)
• The rate of people being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer rose 0.7% per year in women aged 50 and older, and 1.4% per year in women ages 20 to 49 in the years 2012 through 2021. (ACS, 2024)
• From 1989 through 2022, breast cancer deaths in women declined 44%, although the decline has slowed. (ACS, 2024)

Breast cancer mortality statistics

Breast cancer deaths are a devastating reality. But it’s important to know that our most recent statistics about death rates still represent the past because the effects of advanced treatments available today are only seen years after they are regularly used.

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S., behind only lung cancer. (ACS, 2025) (PDF)
• In 2024, about 42,250 women and about 530 men were expected to die from breast cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Globally, female breast cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. In 2022, a worldwide estimate of 665,684 women died from breast cancer. (ACS, 2024)
• While the rate of breast cancer deaths decreased by 44% between 1989 and 2022, the annual rate of decline has slowed from 1.9% to 1.2%. (ACS, 2024)

For more information about breast cancer survival and mortality rates, visit the Breast cancer life expectancy page. Like the numbers on this page, the numbers you will see on the life expectancy page are general, and do not reflect your personal risk or the ways that new treatments have resulted in decreased mortality.

Breast cancer in young women

Here are the latest U.S. statistics for breast cancer in young women:

• About 10% of all new breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women 45 and under. (CDC, 2024)
• Breast cancers in women under 45 are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage than older women. (CDC, 2024)
• Young women may be diagnosed after noticing changes in their breast. For women at average risk, major organizations, including the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, don’t recommend screening before age 40. (USPSTF, 2024; ACS, 2023)
• Young women tend to have dense breasts. Mammograms are less likely to find tumors in women with dense breasts. (CDC, 2024)

Breast cancer in men

Here are the current U.S. statistics for breast cancer in men:

• About 1 in 726 U.S. men will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lives. (ACS, 2025)
• An estimated 2,790 men were expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the U.S. in 2024. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Black men have the highest rate of breast cancer incidence and mortality for men in any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Men with inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations have a higher likelihood of developing breast cancer than men who do not have these mutations. (CDC, 2024)
• A BRCA1 mutation increases a man’s breast cancer risk to about 1% to 5%, and a BRCA2 mutation increases the risk to 5% to 10%. (Basser Center for BRCA, 2024)
• An estimated 1 out of every 5 men with breast cancer has family with a history of breast cancer. (ACS, 2025)

Breast cancer risk statistics based on inherited genetics and family history

Most breast cancer diagnoses are not connected to inherited genetic mutations. And if you do have an inherited gene mutation associated with breast cancer, or a strong family history of breast cancer without a known mutation, broad U.S. statistics may not accurately reflect your risk. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk and the best screening plan for you.

• An estimated 5% to 10% of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations inherited from a parent. (ACS, 2021)
• For women who have inherited a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, the risk of developing breast cancer by age 80 is 70%. (ACS, 2022)(PDF)
• Having a first-degree female relative diagnosed with breast cancer—a mother, sister, or daughter—nearly doubles a woman’s risk of breast cancer. (ACS, 2021)

There are treatments available for breast cancer in people who test positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

To learn more about living with high risk due to a genetic mutation, strong family history, or other factors, visit At high risk for breast cancer.

Early-stage breast cancer statistics

Early-stage breast cancer is confined to the breast and the lymph nodes and has not spread to other parts of the body.

• Two-thirds (66%) of breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed when the cancer is confined to the breast. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• About 56,500 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is noninvasive stage 0 cancer, were expected in 2024. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• In young women, breast cancer is more likely to be discovered at a later stage than breast cancer found older women. (CDC, 2024)

Metastatic breast cancer statistics

Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. While metastatic breast cancer is not curable, it is treatable, and researchers are continually developing more effective treatments.

• It is estimated that in 2025, over 169,000 people are living with metastatic breast cancer in the U.S. (JNCI, 2022)
• In 2024, about 42,250 women were expected to die of metastatic breast cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• It’s estimated that 20% to 30% of people diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer. (AMA, 2023)
• The most common locations of breast cancer metastasis are the bone, lung and liver. (ACS, 2025)
• About 6% of breast cancer cases are metastatic at the first diagnosis. This is called de novo metastatic breast cancer. (SEER, 2024)
• Breast cancer diagnoses in Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native women are more likely to be metastatic than diagnoses in white and Asian American and Pacific Islander women. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)

To learn more about metastatic breast cancer, treatment options, and support resources, visit our Metastatic breast cancer page.

Breast cancer statistics by race and ethnicity

National statistics are important to understand, but they can also hide important disparities in breast cancer risk and outcomes among different populations within the U.S. In some cases, there are known factors, including the prevalence of genetic mutations, that cause disparities. But in other cases, the reasons may be unclear, underlining the need for research that is representative of diversity in the U.S.

Breast cancer and Black women

Black women may face distinct challenges in breast cancer and treatment. Black women have the second highest rate of breast cancer diagnosis in the U.S. Patterns of breast cancer in Black women differ in many ways from those in white women and other races and ethnicities.

• An estimated 40,530 Black women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. (ACS, 2025)
• Though Black women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than white women, Black women are 38% more likely to die of the disease. (ACS, 2025)
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Black women. (ACS, 2025)
• It is estimated that 6,170 Black women died of breast cancer in 2025. (ACS, 2025)
• Compared with white women, Black women are less likely to receive genetic counseling or genetic testing for an inherited mutation. This may happen for reasons including unequal access to care and varying physician recommendations. (JAMA Oncology, 2021)
• Black women have a higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40 than white women. (ACS, 2025)
• Compared with white women in the U.S, Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. (ACS, 2025)

To learn more and find supportive resources, visit Black with breast cancer.

Breast cancer and people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent

Changes on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that are associated with breast cancer risk occur in nearly one out of 40 people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, according to Sharsheret, a national nonprofit working to serve Jewish people and their families dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis or risk.

This is nearly 10 times the likelihood of finding one of these gene changes in a person from the general population, putting Jewish families at an especially high risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Breast cancer and Hispanic or Latina women

While breast cancer incidence is lower for Hispanic women than it is for women in other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., it’s the leading cause of cancer-related death in these women due to lower rates of lung cancer mortality.

A 2023 study found that Hispanic or Latina women are diagnosed at an average age that’s more than 7 years younger than white women. While white women are diagnosed at an average age of 64.5 years, Hispanic or Latina women are diagnosed at an average age of 57.2 years. Researchers also found that Hispanic women were least likely of any racial or ethnic group to have received a breast cancer screening before their diagnoses.

Hispanic women are also more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer than white or Asian and Pacific Islander women.

Breast cancer and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women

Some breast cancer research combines Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people into one group, and that can make it difficult to accurately track incidence and survival rates for the many diverse groups within this category. Researchers are working to separate these groups to get more precise data.

A 2023 CDC study showed that out of four invasive cancers that can be found with screening (female breast, colon, lung, and cervical) breast cancer incidence and stage at diagnosis, tracked from 2015-2019, were as follows:

In Asian American women:

• Early-stage: 65.6%
• Late-stage: 32.3%

In Native Hawaiian women:

• Early-stage: 65.2%
• Late-stage: 32.6%

In other Pacific Islander women:

• Early-stage: 55.7%
• Late-stage: 40.3%

For each of the groups above:

• A diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer was much more common than a diagnosis of early-stage colon, lung, or cervical cancer.
• A diagnosis of late-stage breast cancer was less common than a diagnosis of late-stage colon, lung, or cervical cancer.

Breast cancer and American Indian/Alaska Native women

More research is needed to better understand breast cancer risk and incidence in American Indian and Alaska Native women. Here’s what we know now:

• American Indian/Alaska Native women are not as likely to be diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer that has not reached the lymph nodes or other parts of the body (60%) as Asian American/Pacific Islander (65%) or white women (68%). (ACS 2024) (PDF)
• U.S. breast cancer diagnosis rates among American Indian/Alaska Native women are about 123.6 in 100,000, compared with 137.9 in 100,000 among white women. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Breast cancer death rates in American Indian/Alaska Native women are 20.5 in 100,000, compared with 19.4 per 100,000 among white women. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• American Indian/Alaska Native women have the second highest breast cancer death rate next to Black women. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• The breast cancer mortality rate for American Indian/Alaska Native women has remained steady since the 1990s, despite mortality declining in every other ethnic group. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)

Breast cancer statistics for LGBTQ+ people

People in the LGBTQ+ community may face unique challenges in finding information and guidance on their breast cancer risk and in finding sensitive care for screening and treatment. It can also be hard to find statistics for breast cancer in LGBTQ+ people. In this section, we share some of the known and estimated statistics for breast cancer in this community.

• In 2024, 160,000 new cases of cancer were expected to be diagnosed in U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• LGBTQ+ people have disproportionately high cancer incidence and are at a higher risk for later-stage diagnosis than the general population. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Transgender people are less likely to get breast and cervical cancer screening compared with cisgender individuals and are less likely to be offered appropriate screening tests. (ACS, 2024) (PDF)
• Research published in 2020 showed that sexual minority women were as likely as non-sexual minority women to get a mammogram but were more likely to have a mammogram in response to a problem rather than for routine screening. (LGBT Health, 2020)
• A 2023 study found that people in sex and gender minority groups experience more delays in breast cancer diagnosis, are more likely to decline oncologist recommended treatment, and have three times the rate of breast cancer recurrence compared with cisgender heterosexual people. (JAMA Oncology, 2023)
• Researchers say that a lack of trust in care professionals among LGBTQ+ people could be a possible reason for declining recommended treatment. (Stanford Medicine Scope, 2023)
• Transgender individuals who were assigned male at birth have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than cisgender men. (BMJ, 2019)
• Transgender individuals who were assigned female at birth have a much lower of developing breast cancer than cisgender women. (BMJ, 2019)

Learn more about resources for LGBTQ+ people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or are concerned about their risk on our page LGBTQ+ with breast cancer.

Statistics on paying for breast cancer treatment

During breast cancer treatment, your focus should be on your health and getting better, but we understand the reality that paying for care is a concern for everyone diagnosed with this disease in the U.S. Know that you are not alone.

Even when insurance is picking up the bulk of the cost, many people still struggle to keep up with the price of deductibles, co-pays, transportation, missed work, and many other surprise expenses during treatment and even after active treatment ends. Here, we’ll share some of the ways people across the country are affected by the cost of cancer care.

• Nationally, out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer care in 2019 were $3.14 billion, more than the out-of-pocket costs for any other type of cancer. (NIH, 2021)
• In 2020, the total cost for breast cancer care in the U.S. was $29.8 billion. (NCI, 2024)
• A survey of people who have or had cancer found 47% went into debt due to the cost of care. (ACS Cancer Action Network, 2024) (PDF)
• The survey showed that over half of people with cancer-related medical debt had health insurance from an employer. (ACS Cancer Action Network, 2024) (PDF)
• When people went into debt due to the costs of cancer care, 49% had their credit score decrease and 30% reported had difficulty qualifying for loans. (ACS Cancer Action Network, 2024) (PDF)

If you are struggling to keep up with costs during cancer care, there are places to turn for help. Visit our Financial assistance page for guidance and helpful resources.