Available data on cancer rates in Madagascar are given. Cervical cancer is the most common, accounting for 28% of diagnosed tumours and 47% of genital tumours in women. It occurs most often in women of about 40 years of age. Penile cancer represents 5.2% of male tumours but occurs at different rates in various ethnic groups. Kaposi's sarcoma is rare in Madagascar. Equally hepatocellular carcinoma occurs at a low incidence in this country and is found most frequently in males over the age of 40 years. Cancer control programmes and the problems they encounter are also discussed.