Nearly 13,000 people die of cancer in Kazakhstan every year. However, cancer mortality has declined over the past few years. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to Finprom.kz, data from the Ministry of Health shows that between 2021 and 2025, the number of cancer deaths decreased from 13,700 to 12,700 people. Last year, the majority of cancer deaths were recorded in Almaty, Karaganda region and the city of Astana.
Mortality rates by region
The highest mortality rate was registered in East Kazakhstan region. Here, there were 113 deaths per 100,000 residents. In Abai region this figure was 112.8, and in Akmola region — 94.1.
At the same time, the number of patients diagnosed with cancer is also growing. According to the ministry, in 2025 the total number of patients registered in oncology dispensaries reached 246,100 people. This is 6.6% more compared to 2024.
The growth rate varies across regions. In Ulytau region it was 0.5%, while in Astana it reached 11.4%. In Almaty, the number of patients on oncology records increased by 7.7%. The growth in major cities may be linked to the concentration of high-tech medical care, active detection of new cases and the development of a network of oncology facilities.
At what stage is cancer detected?
82% of newly detected cancer cases are registered at stages I, II and III. This indicator has not changed significantly in recent years. The share of new cases detected at stage IV has decreased from 12.6% to 11.5% since 2021.
Which types of cancer are most common in Kazakhstan?
According to statistics, the most common oncological diseases in the country include:
- 01breast cancer — 13.5%;
- 02skin cancer — 9.7%;
- 03respiratory system cancer — 9.3%.
Rare types include lip cancer (0.3%) and laryngeal cancer (1%).