Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and disease burden of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Guangdong province, 2020, providing a scientific basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies.

Methods Data on the incidence and mortality of NPC in the cancer registration areas of Guangdong province were collected from the cancer registration and follow-up system and death registration system. The incidence and mortality rates, China age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, world age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, and age-specific incidence and mortality rates were calculated to describe the epidemiological characteristics of NPC in Guangdong from January 1 to December 31, 2020. Indicators such as disability-adjusted life years (DALY), years of life lost (YLL), and years of life lived with disability (YLD) were adopted to evaluate the disease burden of NPC.

Results In 2020, the incidence rate, China age-standardized incidence rate, and world age-standardized incidence rate of NPC in cancer registration areas of Guangdong province were 11.52/100 000, 9.70/100 000, and 8.87/100 000, respectively. The mortality rate, China age-standardized mortality rate, and world age-standardized mortality rate were 6.01/100 000, 4.35/100 000, and 4.24/100 000, respectively. The incidence and mortality rates, as well as the age-standardized rates (both China and world) of NPC were higher in males than in females. The incidence rate of NPC was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. However, the China age-standardized incidence rate, world age-standardized incidence rate, mortality rate, Chinese age-standardized mortality rate, and world age-standardized mortality rate were lower in urban areas than in rural areas. The incidence and mortality rates of NPC in cancer registration areas of Guangdong province first increased and then decreased with the increase in age. The incidence and mortality rates significantly increased after the ages of 30 and 35, respectively. The highest incidence and mortality rates for males were observed at ages 60–64 (44.05/100 000) and 70–74 (38.24/100 000), respectively. For females, the peak incidence rate was observed at ages 50–54 (12.70/100 000), while the peak mortality rate was observed at ages 70–74 (12.72/100 000). In urban areas, the incidence and mortality rates peaked at ages 60–64 (28.51/100 000) and 70–74 (26.49/100 000), respectively. In rural areas, the highest incidence rate was observed at ages 55–59 (27.66/100 000), and the peak mortality rate was observed at ages 75–79 (24.64/100 000). In 2020, the DALY for NPC in Guangdong was 195 388.20 person-years, with YLL accounting for 96.52% (188 596.89 person-years). The DALY rate was higher in males (296.91/100 000) than in females (88.27/100 000) and higher in rural areas (206.71/100 000) than in urban areas (184.02/100 000). The DALY rate first increased and then declined with the increase in age. The male DALY rate peaked in the 65–69 age group (961.31/100 000), whereas the female DALY rate peaked in the 70–74 age group (277.00/100 000).

Conclusions The incidence rate, mortality rate, and disease burden of NPC were high in Guangdong province, 2020, showing an initial increase followed by a decline with the increase in age. Males and rural residents should be the key target populations for NPC prevention and control in this region.