Roughly every four hours, someone in America dies from mesothelioma. CDC data recorded more than 2,200 deaths in 2022, with annual totals hovering around 2,500 in recent years. Behind each statistic is a person, usually in their 60s or 70s, who was exposed to asbestos decades ago and is now facing a disease with one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer.
Who are these people? Where were they exposed? And why, 50 years after we first regulated asbestos, are Americans still dying from it?
The data tells a story that most people don’t know.
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The Numbers at a Glance
| Metric | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New U.S. cases annually | ~2,500 to 3,000 | CDC USCS (2,669 in 2022) |
| U.S. deaths annually | ~2,200 to 2,500 | CDC WONDER (>2,200 in 2022) |
| Global deaths annually | ~30,000 to 45,000 | WHO |
| Latency period | 20 to 50 years | NIOSH |
| Pleural 5-year relative survival | ~12% | SEER |
| Peritoneal 5-year relative survival | ~65% | SEER |
Who Gets Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma doesn’t strike randomly. The disease has a clear demographic profile shaped by decades of occupational exposure patterns.
Cell Type Breakdown
| Cell type | Share of U.S. cases |
|---|---|
| Pleural (lining of the lungs) | ~80% |
| Peritoneal (lining of the abdomen) | ~10-20% |
| Pericardial (lining of the heart) | ~0.2% |
| Testicular (tunica vaginalis) | less than 1% |
CDC USCS recorded 51,526 pleural cases and 121 pericardial cases among 63,620 total malignant mesotheliomas from 2003 to 2022.
Gender Breakdown
| Gender | Percentage of Cases |
|---|---|
| Male | ~77-80% |
| Female | ~20-23% |
CDC USCS data (2003-2022) shows 47,973 male and 15,647 female cases, or roughly 75% male and 25% female. Pleural mesothelioma skews even more heavily male (84%).
The gender gap reflects who worked in asbestos-heavy industries. Shipyards, construction sites, and industrial facilities were overwhelmingly male workplaces through the mid-20th century.
But the gap is narrowing. Women are increasingly diagnosed through three pathways: secondary exposure (washing work clothes contaminated with asbestos fibers), environmental exposure (living near asbestos mines or processing facilities), and contaminated cosmetic talc products.
Age at Diagnosis
| Age Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average age at diagnosis | 72 years |
| Cases under age 45 | Less than 1% |
| Cases ages 75 and older | ~50% |
| Peak incidence rate | Ages 80-84 (7.8 per 100,000) |
The age distribution reflects the disease’s long latency period. People exposed in their 20s and 30s typically don’t develop symptoms until their 60s or 70s. Per CDC data, roughly a third of 2021 cases were in people 80 and older, with another 19% in the 75-79 group.
This delay explains why mesothelioma cases are still rising in some demographics. Disease is emerging now from exposures that occurred in the 1970s and 1980s.
Occupations with Highest Risk
Occupational cohort studies show dramatic increases in risk among heavily exposed workers. The Finnish cohort study (1967-2012) documented 3- to 100-fold increases in mesothelioma incidence across asbestos-exposed trades, depending on exposure intensity and duration. Selikoff’s classic U.S. insulation worker cohort found risk ratios as high as 46-fold.
| Occupation group | Relative risk vs. general population |
|---|---|
| Insulation workers | Up to ~46x (Selikoff cohort) |
| Shipyard workers | Elevated multiple-fold |
| Pipefitters and plumbers | Elevated multiple-fold |
| Construction trades | Elevated multiple-fold |
| Navy veterans | Elevated multiple-fold |
| Power plant workers | Elevated |
Exact risk ratios vary by study, trade, and exposure era. Workers active before the 1980s faced the highest exposures due to weaker industrial hygiene.
A meaningful share of cases, especially among women, involve no direct occupational exposure. Many of these are family members exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on workers’ clothing, skin, and hair. Environmental exposure near mines or processing facilities also contributes.
The Veterans Crisis
One-third of all people with mesothelioma in the United States are military veterans. This isn’t coincidence. It’s the result of decades of heavy asbestos use across every branch of the armed forces.
| Veteran metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Share of U.S. mesothelioma cases | ~30-33% |
| Highest-risk branch | Navy |
| Years since most military exposure | 30+ |
| Veterans in U.S. population | ~7% |
Why Veterans?
Naval vessels: Ships built before 1980 contained thousands of pounds of asbestos in insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing. Sailors worked, ate, and slept surrounded by the material.
Military construction: Barracks, mess halls, and other facilities were built with asbestos-containing materials. Renovation and demolition exposed countless service members.
Combat equipment: Tanks, aircraft, and vehicles used asbestos in brake systems, gaskets, and heat shields.
No warnings: Unlike some civilian workplaces, military personnel were rarely informed of asbestos risks or provided with protective equipment.
Veterans exposed in the 1960s and 1970s are now reaching the age when mesothelioma typically appears. The VA expects cases to continue rising through 2030.
Geographic Hot Spots
Mesothelioma isn’t evenly distributed across the country. Cases cluster around areas with histories of shipbuilding, heavy industry, and asbestos manufacturing.
Highest-rate states:
- Maine (shipyards)
- West Virginia (industrial)
- Wyoming (mining, oil & gas)
- Pennsylvania (steel mills, shipyards)
- Washington (shipyards, Boeing)
Highest-rate cities:
- Hampton Roads, Virginia (naval shipyards)
- Seattle-Tacoma (shipyards, Boeing)
- Philadelphia (shipyards, industrial)
- Los Angeles/Long Beach (ports, shipyards)
- Baltimore, Maryland (Sparrows Point steel, Key Highway shipyards)
- Boston and Quincy, Massachusetts (Fore River, Charlestown Navy Yard)
- Groton and New London, Connecticut (Electric Boat submarines)
- Portland, Oregon (Kaiser WWII shipyards, paper mills)
- Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana (Cancer Alley petrochemicals)
- Iron Range, Minnesota (taconite mining, 3M)
The small town of Libby, Montana has mesothelioma rates 40-60 times the national average due to a vermiculite mine contaminated with asbestos that operated until 1990. Over 400 residents have died from asbestos-related diseases.
The Survival Reality
Mesothelioma has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer. The statistics are stark:
| Stage at diagnosis (pleural) | Median survival |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 (localized) | ~21 months |
| Stage 2 | ~19 months |
| Stage 3 | ~16 months |
| Stage 4 (distant) | ~12 months |
Why so low?
- Most cases are diagnosed at advanced stages (symptoms appear late)
- The cancer is resistant to standard chemotherapy
- Surgery is only possible for a minority of people with the disease
- The patient population skews older with more comorbidities
Peritoneal mesothelioma tells a different story. SEER data shows a 5-year relative survival rate of about 65%, with median survival around 31 months. People who qualify for cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC can see median survival push past 30 to 90 months in some published series.
Immunotherapy has also moved the pleural numbers. The CheckMate 743 trial reported 18.1 months median overall survival with nivolumab plus ipilimumab, and clinical trials of newer combinations are ongoing. See our full page on immunotherapy combinations for current protocols.
The Cost of Mesothelioma
| Cost Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average annual treatment | $150,000+ |
| Lifetime treatment cost | $500,000-$1M |
| Trust fund payouts to date | $30+ billion |
Beyond direct medical costs, mesothelioma creates massive economic impact through:
- Lost wages and productivity
- Caregiver burden (many patients require full-time care)
- Legal and administrative costs
- Long-term disability
Trends: Is It Getting Better?
The answer is complicated.
Good news: Mesothelioma rates in younger age groups are declining, reflecting reduced asbestos exposure since regulations began in the 1970s.
Bad news: Overall cases haven’t decreased significantly because we’re still seeing disease from exposures that occurred 30-50 years ago. The CDC projects cases will remain elevated through at least 2030.
Concerning trend: Cases linked to non-occupational exposure (environmental, secondary, cosmetic talc) appear to be increasing as a proportion of total cases.
What Happens Next?
Mesothelioma will remain a significant public health problem for decades. Millions of Americans were exposed before regulations, and many will still develop disease. Older buildings, ships, and infrastructure contain legacy asbestos, and renovation and demolition continue to expose workers. Asbestos is still mined and used in countries that export products to the US, despite the EPA’s March 2024 ban on chrysotile asbestos. Climate disasters (hurricanes, wildfires, and floods) damage buildings and release asbestos into communities, as seen in the 2018 Camp Fire cleanup in California and after Hurricane Ian in Florida.
The Americans who will die from mesothelioma this year, some 2,200 to 2,500 of them, were exposed decades ago. The decisions we make now about asbestos in schools, homes, and workplaces will determine how many die in 2050.
Related Reading
How many people die from mesothelioma each year?▼
CDC WONDER recorded more than 2,200 mesothelioma deaths in 2022, with annual U.S. totals hovering around 2,200 to 2,500 in recent years. About 2,500 to 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually per CDC USCS. Globally, estimates range from 30,000 to 45,000 deaths per year. Cases are expected to remain elevated through at least 2030 due to the disease’s 20 to 50 year latency period.
Who is most at risk for mesothelioma?▼
The highest-risk groups are military veterans (especially Navy), construction workers, shipyard workers, insulation workers, and industrial tradespeople. Men account for roughly 77 to 80% of cases, and the average age at diagnosis is 72. Family members of workers can also be at risk from take-home exposure.
Why are mesothelioma cases still occurring if asbestos is regulated?▼
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years between exposure and diagnosis. People exposed in the 1970s and 1980s are now developing the disease. Additionally, asbestos remains in millions of older buildings, and some countries still produce and export asbestos products.
What is the survival rate for mesothelioma?▼
Per SEER, the 5-year relative survival rate for pleural mesothelioma is about 12%, while peritoneal mesothelioma is closer to 65%. Outcomes vary significantly based on stage at diagnosis, cell type, patient health, and treatment. Some people with early-stage disease who receive aggressive treatment, including HIPEC for peritoneal cases, survive significantly longer.