Abstract: bjective To analyze the trend of the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in China from 2000 to 2019, providing scientific reference for the formulation of prevention and treatment strategies for liver cancer. Methods The information of the incidence and mortality of liver cancer in China from 2000 to 2019 was collected from the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) Database. The average annual percent change (AAPC) and annual percent change (APC) were used to describe the trends of the incidence and mortality of liver cancer for the entire population, different sex and different age by using the JoinPoint regression model. Results From 2000 to 2019, the total number of incidence and mortality of liver cancer in China were 4,322,652 cases and 4,093,855 cases, respectively. The standardized incidence rate and mortality rate were 11.31/105 and 9.68/105, respectively. The incidence rate of liver cancer in China showed a downward trend from 2000 to 2019 (AAPC=-2.11%), namely, a decline trend in 2000-2002 and 2002—2005, with APC of -10.55% and -15.45%, respectively, and a slight upward trend in 2005—2010 and 2010—2019, with APC of 0.44% and 3.39%, respectively. The incidence rate of both male and female showed a downward trend (AAPC=-1.95%, -2.43%). The mortality rate of liver cancer in China from 2000 to 2019 showed a decreased trend (AAPC=-2.41%), a decline trend during 2000—2005 with APC of -13.52% and a slight upward trend in 2005—2012 and 2012—2019, with APC of 0.18% and 3.64%, respectively. The mortality rate of both male and female showed a downward trend (AAPC=-2.34%, -2.60%). The age⁃specific incidence rate and mortality rate of liver cancer in China increased with the increase of age (AAPC= 5.94%, 7.10%). The age⁃specific incidence rate of liver cancer for male increased rapidly in 10-40 years old and decreased after 80 years old, while it increased overall for female. The age⁃specific mortality rate of liver cancer for male increased rapidly in 5-10 years old, and for female it increased with the increase of age. Conclusions From 2000 to 2019, the incidence rate and mortality rate of liver cancer in China both show overall downward trend. The incidence rate and mortality rate of male are higher than those of female, and increased with the increase of age. The male and elderly population are the key focus groups for liver cancer.

Key words: Liver cancer, Incidence rate, Mortality rate, JoinPoint model, Trends