Written by Karen Selby | Edited by Amy Edel
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. For every 100,000 people in the United States, fewer than 1 new mesothelioma case was reported in 2021. Doctors diagnosed 72,779 new cases of mesothelioma in the U.S. from 1999 to 2021. Since 1999, the highest number of new mesothelioma cases in the U.S. occurred in 2011, with 3,376 diagnoses. While cases were trending down in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic may have delayed diagnoses during this time period.
Key Facts
These figures reflect the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute’s U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. The most recent federal mesothelioma data is from 2021 because gathering and reporting accurate information from these federal agencies takes time.
Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor and advocate Tamron Little understands just how rare this cancer is. She tells us, “Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer. The first oncologist I saw was honest and said he didn’t know anything about peritoneal mesothelioma. After that visit, I was determined to find a mesothelioma specialist.”
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Mesothelioma incidence rates vary across the United States. Data from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) Working Group, a collaboration between the CDC and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) SEER Program, shows significant geographic differences.
California, Pennsylvania, Washington and other states with long histories of shipbuilding, oil refining and asbestos manufacturing report high mesothelioma rates. In 2021, California had 284 new cases, Florida 237 and Texas 206. USCS Working Group data from 2021 shows the mesothelioma incidence rate in Washington state was 0.9 per 100,000 people. The mesothelioma incidence rate in Pennsylvania was 0.8 per 100,000 people in 2021.
Highest Rates Per 100K People
California, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York and Ohio had the highest mesothelioma-related mortalities between 2016 and 2021. Delaware’s mortality rate from 2018-2021 was 1 per 100,000 people. Maine’s was 1 per 100,000. Alaska’s was 1.2 per 100,000. Puerto Rico had a mortality rate of 0.1 per 100,000. Georgia had a mortality rate of 0.4 per 100,000.
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Find Your DoctorThe No. 1 cause of mesothelioma is occupational asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that saw wide use in construction, manufacturing and military applications from the 1940s through the 1970s. When people inhale or ingest asbestos fibers, they embed in the body’s protective linings, causing cellular damage that can lead to mesothelioma decades later. People working in construction, shipyards, manufacturing and the U.S. military have the highest mesothelioma incidence, according to research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Researchers from the Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University published a study in Environmental Research in 2023. It maps occupations, industries and mesothelioma incidence from 2006–2022 and confirms industrial and military exposure causes most U.S. mesothelioma cases.
Mesothelioma Cases by Occupation From 2006-2022
Family members of workers who encountered asbestos can develop mesothelioma through secondary exposure. It’s the most common way women encounter asbestos, affecting about 44% of women compared to 3% of men.
Veterans account for approximately 30 to 33% of all mesothelioma diagnoses in the U.S., according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Navy veterans face the highest risk because shipbuilders and naval crews relied heavily on asbestos aboard vessels.
Where tumors first develop affects survival rates significantly. About 73% of people with pleural mesothelioma survive 1 year. The 5-year survival rate is 12%. For peritoneal mesothelioma, 92% survive 1 year. The 5-year survival rate is 65%. For pericardial mesothelioma, 26% survive 1 year. The 5-year survival rate is 9%.
| Type | % of Cases | 1-Year Survival | 5-Year Survival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pleural | 80% | 73% | 12% |
| Peritoneal | ~20% | 92% | 65% |
| Pericardial | ~1% | 26% | 9% |
| Testicular | <1% | Data limited | Data limited |
Survival rates also vary by cell type. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common cell type, accounting for approximately 60% to 70% of diagnoses. Patients with epithelioid mesothelioma typically survive roughly twice as long as those with sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
The incidence rate of pleural mesothelioma is significantly higher than for any other mesothelioma type. About 80% of cases occur in the pleura, the smooth tissue surrounding the lungs. About 20% of cases are peritoneal mesothelioma, which develops in the peritoneum, the smooth lining of the abdomen. About 1% are pericardial cases, forming in the heart’s lining, the pericardium. Fewer than 1% of mesothelioma cases are testicular, developing in the tunica vaginalis, the tissue that covers the testes.
Treatment significantly extends survival for mesothelioma patients. Peritoneal patients who receive HIPEC surgery have a 50% or greater chance of surviving 5 years, and immunotherapy combinations have extended median survival beyond 18 months for some pleural patients.
A recent study presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress looked at combining 2 or more mesothelioma treatment options, known as a multimodal approach. Patients receive sequential treatments such as surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. The study showed a 1-year survival rate of 79.6% for pleural mesothelioma patients who underwent a combination of surgery, chemo and radiation.
Treatment’s Effect on Mesothelioma Survival
Clinical trials are research studies testing new drugs, surgical techniques and treatment combinations. These trials give patients access to breakthrough therapies that could extend survival. Another key to successful outcomes is beginning treatment as early as possible. Mesothelioma symptoms often don’t appear until people are already in later stages. Regular screenings for people with asbestos exposure can help catch the disease early.
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Get Your Free GuideGovernment agencies break down and study mesothelioma statistics among different demographics to help understand risk and prognosis. Different ages, genders, races or ethnicities have different incident rates.
This information also helps agencies identify and address disparities in access to screenings, diagnosis and treatment. As the Utah Department of Health and Human Services explains, “Analysis of public health data by demographic characteristics is essential to the reduction and elimination of health disparities.”
CDC data from 2021 showed 33% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma were 80 or older. People between the ages of 75-79 comprised 19% of new cases in 2021. About 4% of cases were among people between the ages of 35-49.
The latency period is generally shorter for peritoneal mesothelioma than for pleural mesothelioma. Most people diagnosed with peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma are about 51 and 67 years old, respectively.
Mesothelioma survivor Tamron tells us she wasn’t in the usual age demographic when diagnosed. She shares, “I was just 21 years old. My case was as rare as you can get.”
Younger patients have significantly higher mesothelioma survival rates than older patients. More than 50% of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 survive 1 year, while fewer than 33% of those 75 or older survive the same length of time.
There were 502 mesothelioma deaths among patients ages 85 and older in 2022, the latest year for which data on mortality by age is available. That same year, 21 people between the ages of 45 and 49 died of mesothelioma.
Historically, mesothelioma has been primarily diagnosed in men. According to the CDC’s United States Cancer Statistics, men made up 70% and women 30% of new mesothelioma cases in the U.S. in 2021. There were 1,973 new mesothelioma cases among men and 830 in women.
Women at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure are registered nurses, homemakers and teachers in elementary and middle school. A recent study found among people older than 44 years, mesothelioma incidence rates were higher among men. Among those younger than 45 years, women had higher incidence rates.
The time from the initial asbestos exposure to when symptoms appear, or latency period, tends to be longer for women than for men. It’s believed this is because a significant percentage of women experienced secondhand exposure over time rather than primary exposure.
Men’s higher rates of heavy occupational asbestos exposure likely result in a shorter latency period. The latency period for men is about 48 years. The latency period for women is about 53 years.
Women tend to have better survival rates than men. For example, the 5-year survival rate for women with pleural mesothelioma is about 16%. For men, it’s around 7%.
However, according to the CDC, mesothelioma deaths among women increased significantly. Mesothelioma cancer deaths for women increased 25% from 1999 to 2020. Combining statistics for both men and women, there were 2,376 mesothelioma deaths in 2020.
The 5-year survival rate for women with pleural mesothelioma is about 50% higher than the rate for men. While men account for the majority of diagnoses, the number of mesothelioma deaths among women rose 25% from 1999 to 2020. Women are also more likely to develop peritoneal mesothelioma than men, which generally carries a more favorable prognosis.
Most people with mesothelioma are non-Hispanic white. In 2021, they made up 81% of all cases. Between 2017 and 2021, the CDC reported 12,174 new cases among whites. In comparison, there were 1,275 cases among Hispanics and 741 cases among non-Hispanic Blacks.
Data from SEER shows that mesothelioma cases in non-Hispanic whites have gone down from 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 0.8 in 2021. For Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander groups, the rates have stayed about the same.
Survival rates also differ by race. In 2015, the 5-year survival rate was about 19% for Black patients, compared to about 9% for white patients.
Although mesothelioma is more common in men, women account for approximately 30% of U.S. diagnoses. Secondary asbestos exposure is the most common exposure pathway for women, accounting for approximately 44% of female cases.
Women most at risk for occupational exposure include registered nurses, elementary and middle school teachers and homemakers, according to CDC data. Among people younger than 45, women have higher mesothelioma incidence rates than men in the same age group.
Women with mesothelioma may also have been exposed through talcum powder products, which have tested positive for asbestos contamination. Women are also more likely to develop peritoneal mesothelioma, which generally produces better survival outcomes than pleural mesothelioma.
WHO estimates that globally more than 200,000 people die annually from asbestos-related diseases. A study in Occupational and Environmental Medicine used WHO data to estimate that mesothelioma specifically accounts for roughly 38,000 of those deaths each year. Many experts believe the true toll is likely higher because of underreporting in countries without robust cancer registry infrastructure.
Australia, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have the highest per-capita mesothelioma rates, reflecting early and heavy industrial asbestos use. India, China, Russia and other nations that continued heavy asbestos use into the 1990s and beyond haven’t yet reached their incidence peak, and many lack the infrastructure to accurately report cases.
The disease’s 20 to 60-year latency period means countries with more recent asbestos use will see cases rise in the decades ahead. The global picture underscores that asbestos-containing materials in older U.S. buildings and imported products remain a source of exposure risk, even as domestic industrial use has significantly declined.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that the first year of lung cancer treatment costs more than $60,000. Mesothelioma treatment costs are similar. These expenses can include hospital bills, lost income, and travel for care.
Some patients may qualify for financial help, like VA benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance. Others may file legal claims, such as asbestos trust fund claims and mesothelioma lawsuits, to help pay for costs.
Mesothelioma Claims and Financial Compensation
Patient Advocate and VA-accredited claims agent Danielle DiPietro explains: “It’s important for patients and families to seek out financial assistance. You really can’t expect what a diagnosis is going to cost for treatment or at-home care, or what your family’s needs are. So it’s always important to plan for the future.”
Approximately 3,000 people receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in the United States each year. The CDC reported 2,803 new cases in 2021, the most recent year of available federal data. For every 100,000 people in the U.S., doctors diagnose fewer than 1 new case annually, making mesothelioma a rare cancer.
Survival rates for mesothelioma vary significantly by type. About 12% of people with pleural mesothelioma survive 5 years, while about 65% of people with peritoneal mesothelioma survive 5 years. Peritoneal survival rates reflect the availability of HIPEC surgery, and published SEER figures typically lag real-world outcomes by 5 to 10 years. Immunotherapy combinations have also improved outcomes for some pleural patients.
Mesothelioma diagnoses in the United States have declined roughly 40% since peaking in the early 1990s, though doctors still diagnose approximately 3,000 new cases annually. Cases continue today because the disease carries a 20 to 60-year latency period, meaning doctors are still diagnosing people who encountered asbestos decades ago. The COVID-19 pandemic may have affected 2020–2021 counts, as delays likely pushed some diagnoses into later years. Mesothelioma death rates among women haven’t declined at the same pace as those among men.
People with occupational asbestos exposure face the highest risk of mesothelioma. Manufacturing workers account for 22% of U.S. cases and construction workers account for 13.5%. Veterans account for approximately 30 to 33% of all mesothelioma diagnoses in the U.S., and secondary household exposure is the most common pathway for women. The disease’s 20 to 60-year latency period means many people who encountered asbestos decades ago are still being diagnosed today.
The typical life expectancy after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is 12 to 21 months. A 2018 study of highly selected patients reported median survival of more than 8 years, though most peritoneal mesothelioma patients who receive HIPEC surgery have a median overall survival of 53 months. Cell type also plays a role. People with epithelioid mesothelioma typically survive approximately twice as long as those with sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Younger patients generally have better outcomes than older patients. Individual outcomes vary substantially depending on diagnosis stage, overall health and treatment options.
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Asbestos.com. (2026, March 10). Mesothelioma Statistics. Retrieved March 12, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/statistics/
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Asbestos.com. "Mesothelioma Statistics." Last modified March 10, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/statistics/.
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and Board Certified Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center with more than 30 years of experience in oncology and thoracic surgery. She worked as an operating room nurse in thoracic surgery at the University of Maryland for 6 years, assisting with surgeries such as lung transplants, pneumonectomies and pleurectomies. She later served as regional director of the tissue procurement program at the University of Florida. Karen joined The Mesothelioma Center in 2009, providing patients with personalized support and resources.
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