MEN are 50% more likely to die from cancer than women, according to new statistics.

Data published by Cancer Research UK shows more than 4.6 million men die from the disease every year across the globe - the equivalent to 126 men in every 100,000. This compares to around 3.5m women who die from the disease - 82 per 100,000.

Central and eastern Europe are the regions where men are most likely to die compared to women, whereas East Africa has the highest death rates for women. It is one of the few regions where rates for women are higher than for men.

In the UK, men are 30% more likely to die than women. This is one of the lowest differences seen in Europe.

Nick Ormiston-Smith, head of statistics at Cancer Research UK, said: "The contrast may be down to more men being diagnosed with types of cancers that are harder to treat, such as cancers of the bladder, liver, lung and oesophagus."