ObjectiveTo analyze the burden and incidence of thyroid cancer in the world and in China based on the 2018, 2020 and 2022 editions of the Global Cancer Statistical Report jointly compiled by the World Health Organization (IARC) and the American Cancer Society. MethodsThe global cancer registry data of GLOBOCAN in 2018, 2020 and 2022 were compiled and analyzed, and the crude and age-standardized rates of thyroid cancer incidence in the world and China were extracted, and the incidence characteristics of thyroid cancer in the world and China were compared. ResultsIn 2022, the number of new thyroid cancers in the world was estimated to be about 821 000, ranking 7th among all cancers, with a crude incidence rate of 10.4 per 100 000. The number of new cases of thyroid cancer in China will be about 466 000, ranking third, with a crude incidence rate of 33.0 per 100 000. There are significant differences in the incidence of thyroid cancer among different genders: in 2022, the number of new cases of thyroid cancer in women is about three times that of men, and the crude incidence rate in women is significantly higher than that in men. From 2018 to 2022, the incidence of thyroid cancer increased year by year in the world and China. ConclusionsThe disease burden of thyroid cancer in China is still heavy and higher than the global level, and the prevention and treatment of thyroid cancer is still facing great challenges.