Wilms Cancer Foundation
Defeating Childhood Kidney Cancer
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Wilms Tumor (Nephroblastoma) in Children: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Survival, Relapse, Long-term Effects & Childhood Kidney Cancer Support
The international Wilms tumor charity website of the Wilms Cancer Foundation providing the world's most comprehensive free resource dedicated to Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) and childhood kidney cancer, featuring evidence-based information on symptoms, diagnosis, staging, treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, relapse, survivorship, long-term effects, clinical trials, patient support, nutrition, and family resources for children, parents, caregivers, survivors, healthcare professionals, and childhood cancer communities worldwide.
Wilms Tumor Statistics (Overview)
What's on this page:
Learn more about Wilms tumor statistics, including global incidence rates, survival outcomes, relapse trends, treatment success rates, and the worldwide impact of childhood kidney cancer. Wilms tumor statistics help researchers, healthcare providers, and advocacy organizations better understand disease patterns, improve treatment strategies, and support advances in pediatric oncology care and survivorship.
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Wilms Tumors Statistics;
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What this Means for Parents;
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's);
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Learn More & Get Support.
Understanding Wilms Tumor Statistics
Wilms tumor is the 4th most common childhood cancer and the most common kidney cancer affecting children. It represents approximately 5–7% of all childhood cancers worldwide. The disease most commonly affects children between the ages of 2 and 5 years, with the average age at diagnosis around 3 to 4 years old. Each year, approximately 600–650 children are diagnosed with Wilms tumor in the United States alone, while global incidence rates are estimated at roughly 7–10 cases per million children under the age of 15.
Advances in pediatric oncology have dramatically improved survival outcomes over recent decades. In high-income countries, overall survival rates for Wilms tumor now commonly exceed 90%, with some studies reporting survival rates between 70% and 97% depending on tumor stage, histology, and access to treatment. Favorable histology stage 1 disease may achieve survival rates approaching 98–99%.
Despite these advances, major global disparities remain. Survival outcomes in low- and middle-income countries can be significantly lower due to delayed diagnosis, treatment abandonment, limited access to pediatric oncology care, shortages of chemotherapy and imaging resources, and reduced long-term follow-up capacity. In some lower-income regions, reported survival rates may fall below 50%.
Wilms tumor most commonly affects only one kidney, although approximately 5–10% of children develop bilateral disease involving both kidneys. Lung metastases are among the most common sites of spread in advanced-stage disease.
Globally, childhood cancer remains a major healthcare challenge, with nearly 400,000 children diagnosed with cancer annually worldwide. International organizations and pediatric oncology initiatives, including the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, continue working to improve survival rates, expand access to treatment, and reduce disparities in childhood cancer care worldwide.
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Wilms (or ‘nephroblastoma’) is the most common type of kidney cancer in children and the 4th most common childhood cancer overall. About 1 in 10,000 diagnosed with the disease each year in North America. Overall around 7,500 children under the age of 18 suffer from Wilms at any given time and about 190,000 worldwide. The tumour grows on the kidney with the most common symptom being a sudden swollen stomach. Eventually the tumor becomes much bigger than the kidney itself and both usually require removal. Later stage Wilms can spread to other parts of the body including the lungs, liver and bones.
th
most common childhood cancer (2)
5/100
9/10
of all childhood kidney cancers are Wilms (4)
1/10,000
children are at risk from Wilms (5)
600-700
new cases of Wilms in North America per yr. (6)
55%
diagnosed with Wilms after it has spread (7)
190,000
children suffer Wilms worldwide per yr. (9)
$100
cost of early detection of Wilms (one-time) (11)
late detection treatment cost (per yr.) (12)
more per day to treat children with cancer (13)
Global Snap-Shot
Bolivia
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 29%
Nigeria
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 67%
Malawi
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 54%
India
New cases: 1,600
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 34%
Australia
New cases: 23
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
China
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 24%
Germany
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
UK
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Canada
New cases: 70-80
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
USA
New cases: 600-700
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Equador
New cases: N/A
In-Treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 24%
By Country
Alphabetical Order
Australia
New cases: 23
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Argentina
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: N/A
Austria
New cases: 36
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Belgium
New cases: 80
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Brazil
New cases: 332
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: N/A
Bolivia
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 29%
Canada
New cases: 70-80
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
China
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 24%
Croatia
New cases: 4
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: N/A
Czech Republic
New cases: 5
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Denmark
New cases: 38
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Egypt
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 8%
Equador
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 24%
France
New cases: 687
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Germany
New cases: 695
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Greece
New cases: 23
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Holland
New cases: 164
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
India
New cases: 1,600
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 34%
Iran
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 28%
Iraq
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 27%
Italy
New cases: 61
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Kenya
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 33%
Malawi
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 54%
Mexico
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: N/A
Norway
New cases: 22
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
New Zealand
New cases: 4
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Nigeria
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 67%
Peru
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 29%
Poland
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Republic of Ireland
New cases: 28
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Serbia & Montenegro
New cases: 7
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Slovak Republic
New cases: 26
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Slovenia
New cases: 22
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
South Africa
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 30%
Spain
New cases: 156
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Sweden
New cases: 92
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Switzerland
New cases: 55
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
Uganda
New cases: N/A
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 30%
UK
New cases: 561
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
USA
New cases: 600-700
In-treatment: N/A
Mortality rate/s: 7%
More about Wilms Tumor Statistics
Wilms Tumor Survival Statistics
Learn how modern treatments have improved survival rates for children diagnosed with Wilms tumor and the factors influencing long-term outcomes.
Read more about survival rates and what influences them
Survival Statistics After Relapse
Explore survival outcomes following relapsed Wilms tumor and the treatments helping improve recovery after recurrent childhood kidney cancer.
Read more about how relapse effects statistics
Global Wilms Tumor Statistics
Explore global Wilms tumor statistics, childhood kidney cancer incidence, survival disparities, access to treatment, and worldwide pediatric oncology data relating to nephroblastoma and childhood cancer care.
Read more about Wilms Tumor Internationally
Childhood Cancer Statistics
Compare childhood cancer statistics worldwide and understand where Wilms tumor fits within the global pediatric cancer landscape.
Read more about other childhood cancers reletive to Wilms Tumor
Wilms Tumor Relapse Statistics
Learn how often Wilms tumor returns after treatment and the factors influencing the risk of recurrence.
Read more about relpase and when its occurs
Stage-Based Survival Statistics
Explore how survival rates vary according to Wilms tumor stage and why early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes.
Read more about statistics relating to stage of diagnosis
Wilms Tumor Incidence Statistics
Learn how frequently Wilms tumor occurs worldwide and explore the incidence patterns of childhood kidney cancer across different populations.
Read more about incident rates globally
Treatment Success Statistics for Wilms Tumor
Discover how modern treatment approaches continue to improve survival and long-term outcomes for children diagnosed with Wilms tumor.
Read more about rates of success
Long-Term Survivorship Statistics
Explore long-term survivorship trends and discover how children continue to thrive after completing Wilms tumor treatment.\
Read more about patterns in survivorship
Treatment Abandonment Statistics
Understand how treatment abandonment affects childhood cancer survival and the global initiatives working to reduce it.
Read more about the incindents of treatment abandonment
Pediatric Oncology Access Statistics
Learn how access to specialist pediatric oncology services influences survival and treatment outcomes worldwide.
Read more about Access rates to pediatric oncology services
Wilms Tumor Mortality Statistics
Explore how mortality rates continue to decline as diagnosis, treatment, and childhood cancer care improve worldwide.
Read more about mortality rates
Childhood Cancer Survival Disparities
Discover why survival rates differ around the world and the international efforts helping reduce healthcare inequalities.
Read more about how survival can be effected by inequalities in healthcare
Wilms Tumor Research & Clinical Trial Statistics
Explore how clinical trials, international research, and scientific innovation continue to improve outcomes for children with Wilms tumor.
Read more about the latest advancements in Wilms Tumor research and how it effects the statistics
Parent & Caregiver Support
Wilms tumor is the most common childhood kidney cancer and represents approximately 5–7% of all childhood cancers worldwide.