HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer Rates by Race and Ethnicity

It is estimated that about 11,967 new cases of HPV-associated cervical cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.* More black and Hispanic women get cervical cancer than women of other races or ethnicities, possibly because of decreased access to Pap testing or follow-up treatment.

*Note: This study used cancer registry data to estimate the amount of potentially HPV-associated cancer in the United States by examining cancer in parts of the body and cancer cell types that are more likely to be caused by HPV. Cancer registries do not collect data on the presence or absence of HPV in cancer tissue at the time of diagnosis. However, nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.

HPV-Associated Cervical Cancer Rates by Race and Ethnicity, United States, 2004–2008

The graph above shows age-adjusted incidence rates for cervical cancer in the United States during 2004–2008. "AI/AN" means American Indian/Alaska Native, and "A/PI" means Asian/Pacific Islander. The rates shown are the number of women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer for every 100,000 women. About 10 black women, 7 white women, 7 American Indian/Alaska Native women, and 7 Asian/Pacific Islander women were diagnosed with cervical cancer per 100,000 women. About 11 Hispanic women were diagnosed with cervical cancer per 100,000 women, compared to 7 non-Hispanic women.

This graph was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human papillomavirus–associated cancers—United States, 2004–2008. MMWR 2012;61(15):258–261.