Skin cancer cases in Germany nearly double over two decades

Hospital treatments for skin cancer in Germany reached 120,100 in 2024. This marks a sharp rise of 94.5% since 2004, when 61,700 patients received care. The disease now accounts for a growing share of cancer-related hospitalisations. In 2004, hospitals treated 61,700 skin cancer patients. By 2024, this number had nearly doubled to 120,100. Non-melanoma cases saw an even steeper increase, more than doubling from 43,300 to 94,000 over the same period.

Melanoma treatments also climbed significantly. They rose by 41.7%, from 18,300 in 2004 to 26,100 in 2024. Skin cancer’s share of all inpatient cancer treatments grew from 4.0% to 8.3% during this time.

Deaths from skin cancer reached 4,600 in 2024, up 65.1% from 2004. Older adults were the most affected, with 52.9% of deaths occurring in those aged 80 or above. Men made up 57.2% of hospitalisations for the disease in 2024. The data shows a clear upward trend in both cases and deaths. Skin cancer now represents a larger portion of cancer treatments in German hospitals. The highest fatality rates remain among the elderly population.