The survival experience of patients with cancer of the larynx (ICD 10) registered by the Bombay population-based cancer registry India, during the years 1992-1994, is described. The vital status of these subjects were established by matching with death certificates from the Bombay Municipal death register and by active methods such as reply-paid postal enquiries, telephone enquiries, scrutiny of case records and house visits. Of the 675 eligible cases for analysis, 458 (67.9%) were dead and 217 (32.1%) were alive at last follow-up. The 5-year observed and relative survival rates were 29.1 and 38.2%, respectively; these were 52.1 and 58.5% for glottic laryngeal cancer and 24.2 and 31.4% for supraglottic laryngeal cancer, respectively. The 5-year observed survival was 53.1% for those with localised cancer and 17.8% for those with regional extension. Advancing age, regional and metastatic disease and supraglottic cancers were associated with significantly reduced survival. Early detection and prompt treatment should improve overall survival from laryngeal cancer.