Brain Tumor Facts

Today nearly 700,000 people in the United States are living with a primary brain tumor, and more than 69,000 others will be diagnosed this year. Brain tumors are often deadly, impact quality of life, and change everything for patients and their loved ones.

  • 688,096 Americans are living with a brain tumor today.
    • 550,042 tumors are benign
    • 138,054 tumors are malignant
  • An estimated 69,720 people will receive primary brain tumor diagnoses this year.
    • 45,160 will be benign
    • 24,170 will be malignant
      • Male: 55.2%
      • Female: 44.8%
  • The average survival rate for all malignant brain tumor patients is 33.8%.
    • Male: 32.4%
    • Female: 35.5%
  • An estimated 14,320 people will die from brain cancer annually.
    • Male: 8,090
    • Female: 6,230

Brain Tumors in Adults

  • The most prevalent brain tumor types in adults:
    • Gliomas, such as glioblastoma multiforme, ependymomas, astrocytomas, and oligodendrogliomas
    • Meningiomas

Brain Tumors in Children

  • An estimated 4,300 children will receive brain tumor diagnoses this year.
  • The average survival rate for all children with malignant brain tumors is 66%.
  • Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under 10, and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under 20.
  • The most prevalent brain tumor types in children:
    • Astrocytoma
    • Medulloblastoma
    • Ependymoma