Mesothelioma Statistics

The Importance of Mesothelioma Statistics in the U.S.

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may feel overwhelmed and unsure about their next steps. Understanding statistics about this cancer can provide clarity and help them make informed decisions about treatments and legal options.

Key Mesothelioma Statistics 

• About 3,000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
• Pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the lung lining, accounts for about 80% of cases. Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
• Doctors can treat mesothelioma using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and more.
• The average life expectancy is 4-18 months according to Penn Medicine, but some patients have lived for 20+ years.
• Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. It can take 20-50 years after exposure for symptoms to develop.

At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma law firm has been committed to spreading awareness about this cancer and helping patients pursue justice for over 45 years. No law firm has handled as many mesothelioma cases.

Contact us now to see if our attorneys may be able to help you or a loved one pursue compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Average Mesothelioma Settlement Statistics

The majority of our clients receive out-of-court settlements from a mesothelioma lawsuit with the help of our experienced asbestos attorneys.

A mesothelioma settlement occurs when asbestos-related companies being sued agree to pay the patient a set amount of money, typically before a trial date.

Notable mesothelioma settlement statistics include: 

• The average mesothelioma settlement is worth $1 Million to $1.4 Million.
• Over 3,700 asbestos claims are filed in the U.S. each year.
• More than 99% of mesothelioma lawsuits we handle result in settlements.
• Many of our clients start getting compensation in as few as 90 days.

If you have a case, our lawyers will work to get you the most compensation possible in the shortest amount of time.

If a settlement isn’t reached, a mesothelioma lawsuit may proceed to a trial. Mesothelioma verdicts pay out between $5 Million and $11.4 Million on average, according to Mealey’s^® Litigation Report.

Asbestos Exposure Statistics

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral known for its strength, affordability, and resistance to heat. Up until the 1980s, it was commonly used in buildings, ships, and vehicles to help with fireproofing and durability.

However, breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause long-term irritation in the body and lead to mesothelioma 20-50 years later.

Learn more about asbestos exposure statistics and mesothelioma:

• Over 27 million people were exposed to asbestos at job sites between 1940 and 1979, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
• There’s no safe level of exposure to any type of asbestos fiber, as noted by Penn Medicine.
• Roughly 33% of mesothelioma cases are linked to asbestos exposure stemming from U.S. Navy service or shipyard work.
• In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally banned the last type of asbestos used in the U.S. — but older buildings and materials may still contain asbestos.
• Asbestos fibers have been found in talcum powder. Over 62,000 talcum powder lawsuits have been filed by people suffering from mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.
• Up to 30% of mesothelioma cases in the United States stem from non-occupational or secondhand asbestos exposure, which occurs when a worker unknowingly carries asbestos fibers home on their clothes or hair.

At Sokolove Law, our team maintains a database of over 110,000 job sites that used asbestos. We also have a warehouse of evidence on different asbestos-containing products and companies, which can help us prove your asbestos exposure and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Mesothelioma Statistics in the U.S.

Since asbestos-containing materials were used at job sites in every state, mesothelioma affects thousands of families across the country each year.

Find out more about U.S. mesothelioma statistics:

• California is the state with the highest mesothelioma rates, with 6,800+ cases reported between 1999 and 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type, accounting for around 80% of cases in the U.S.
• U.S. mesothelioma rates peaked in the 1990s and are slowly declining, according to a 2023 analysis of cancer data.
• The rate of mesothelioma is four times higher in men than in women due to workplace asbestos exposure, as noted by a report from the ACS.
• Military veterans account for 33% of mesothelioma diagnoses each year.
• More than 3,700 lawsuits related to mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases were filed nationwide in 2023, according to KCIC. Men filed roughly 75% of these lawsuits.

At Sokolove Law, we've handled over 8,800 mesothelioma and asbestos claims nationwide. See if we can help your family pursue justice and compensation.

Mesothelioma Statistics Worldwide

While over 50 countries have banned asbestos, there’s no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma in those who were exposed decades ago. As a result, people around the world continue to develop this rare cancer each year.

Here are top statistics about mesothelioma’s worldwide impact:

• Around 125 million people are exposed to asbestos in the workplace worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Asbestos accounts for over 70% of all occupational cancers, according to the WHO.
• Over 30,870 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma globally, according to the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand had the highest incidence rates.
• Mesothelioma accounted for 4 in 10 occupational cancer diagnoses in Europe between 2013 and 2021, as reported in a 2024 Eurostat study.
• Over 200,000 patients die from asbestos-related cancers like mesothelioma each year around the world, according to the WHO.

Countries like China, India, Russia, and Canada have yet to fully ban asbestos, potentially putting current and future generations at risk of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Statistics

Doctors diagnose mesothelioma through a series of assessments. They’ll first review a patient’s health history, including any potential asbestos exposure, and then order tests like imaging scans and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Find out more about statistics related to diagnosing mesothelioma:

• A biopsy (review of fluid or tissue sample under a microscope) is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. One type of biopsy called a thoracoscopy correctly diagnosed over 90% of mesothelioma patients in a 2021 study.
• It takes 9 months on average to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis from the start of symptoms.
• Most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed in the later stages, according to the Mayo Clinic.
• The average age of pleural mesothelioma patients at the time of diagnosis is 72, as noted by the ACS.
• Up to 1 in 4 mesothelioma patients are misdiagnosed with the wrong condition at first, according to a report in the Open Epidemiology Journal.

“When you know this could have been prevented, it makes things just that much harder to bear. No one should have to endure the pain of a mesothelioma diagnosis.”
– Karen, Wife of a Mesothelioma Survivor & Firm Client

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, patients can begin a treatment plan to help ease symptoms, improve their quality of life, and potentially live longer. Treatments may even help late-stage mesothelioma patients increase their survival time.

Mesothelioma Survival Statistics

After a diagnosis, patients will receive a mesothelioma prognosis that provides a general idea of how long they may live. While mesothelioma survival times may be less favorable than other cancers, some patients have survived for decades.

Find out more about mesothelioma survival statistics: 

• The average mesothelioma life expectancy ranges from 4-18 months after diagnosis, as noted by Penn Medicine.
• The typical 5-year mesothelioma survival rate is 12%, according to the ACS.
• Pleural mesothelioma patients have an average survival time of 32 months when surgery and chemotherapy are used, according to the Journal of Thoracic Disease.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma patients live for 53 months on average with surgery and heated chemotherapy (HIPEC), as shown in a Cancer Management and Research report.
• The mesothelioma life expectancy without treatment is around 1 year or less.

Mesothelioma treatments can be very expensive, at times exceeding $400,000 a year — and insurance may not cover all of the costs.

At Sokolove Law, our attorneys may be able to pursue compensation on your behalf to ease financial worries while you’re fighting mesothelioma.

Who Is the Longest-Living Person With Mesothelioma?

Paul Kraus is the longest-living mesothelioma survivor. Diagnosed in 1997 with advanced peritoneal mesothelioma and given less than 6 months to live, Paul has defied the odds and is now approaching 30 years of survivorship.

Getting treated may allow you to live longer with mesothelioma. Our mesothelioma attorneys have helped patients across the country access compensation to pay for potentially lifesaving treatments.

Mesothelioma Death Statistics

Since mesothelioma is aggressive and can be hard to treat, it’s often fatal. Mesothelioma mortality rates measure how many people pass away from this cancer.

Mesothelioma death statistics include: 

• Over 2,200 Americans passed away from this cancer in 2022, as noted by the CDC.
• Mesothelioma caused 1 out of every 100,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2022.
• Globally, around 38,400 people die from mesothelioma each year, according to the WHO.
• Asbestos wrongful death claims award $1 Million to $1.4 million on average, helping families with funeral expenses, medical bills, and more.

It’s also important to remember that long-term survival may be possible. Seeking out treatments, for example, can help slow or stop the spread of mesothelioma cancer.

If someone you love passed away from mesothelioma, we may be able to help you file a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims can allow you to pursue compensation and justice from the manufacturers responsible for your loved one’s illness.

Sokolove Law: Fighting for Mesothelioma Patients Nationwide

At Sokolove Law, we’ll fight hard to get the most compensation possible for mesothelioma patients and their families.

Our mesothelioma lawyers can handle every step of the legal process, from gathering evidence to filing a lawsuit and negotiating a payout on your behalf, ensuring there’s no extra stress on you.

Our track record of success includes:

• Over 45 years of experience handling mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits
• More than $5.2 Billion secured for mesothelioma patients
• 8,800+ asbestos claims handled to date
• Results secured for families in all 50 states

We never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees, which allows anyone to work with our mesothelioma attorneys regardless of their financial resources.

Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to see if we may be able to help you pursue justice.

Mesothelioma Asbestos Statistic FAQs