Objective To describe the incidence and mortality of adult head and neck cancer (HNC) in different regions worldwide and their temporal trends.

Methods Based on the GLOBOCAN 2022 database and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, we described the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of HNC among adults aged ≥20 years by sex, region, and human development index (HDI). Incidence and mortality across different age groups were also analyzed. Furthermore, the projected number of new HNC cases in adults in 2040 was estimated.

Results In 2022, there were an estimated 1 750 871 new cases and 527 226 deaths from HNC among adults aged ≥20 years globally. Thyroid cancer showed the highest ASIR(14.9 per 100 000), while lip, oral cavity, and pharynx had the highest ASMR (6.4 per 100 000). Overall, adult males had higher HNC incidence (ASIR: 32.8 per 100 000 vs. 29.9 per 100 000) and mortality (ASMR: 13.5 per 100 000 vs. 4.4 per 100 000) than females. This disparity was particularly pronounced for cancers of the lip and oral cavity, pharynx, and nasopharynx. In contrast, females had higher incidence and mortality from thyroid cancer than males (ASIR: 22.3 per 100 000 vs. 7.5 per 100 000; ASMR: 0.9 per 100 000 vs. 0.6 per 100 000). In 2022, the incidence of thyroid cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer was higher in high-HDI regions, whereas cancers of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx were more common in middle-HDI regions. Furthermore, low- and middle-HDI regions generally exhibited higher mortality rates across various HNC types. If incidence rates remain constant, the projected number of new HNC cases in adults aged ≥20 years globally in 2040 is estimated to be 2.354 million, representing a 34.4% increase compared to the 2022 estimate.

Conclusions Head and neck cancer constitutes a significant component of the global cancer burden in terms of both incidence and mortality among adults. Its epidemiological characteristics show marked variations by sex, age, geographic region, and cancer subtype, underscoring the need for tailored prevention and control strategies targeting high-risk populations and regions.