Objective To identify the disease burden and indirect economic burden caused by lung cancer in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, from 1981 to 2020.

Methods The incidence and death cases of lung cancer were obtained from cancer registry and death cause monitoring data. The disability adjusted life years (DALY) was used as the evaluation index for burden posed by lung cancer on health, and the indirect economic burden was calculated by a human capital method.

Results From 1981 to 2020, a total of 9272 deaths due to lung cancer were reported in Kunshan, of which 7106 were males and 2166 were females. The DALY caused by lung cancer in the whole population were 3.81, 4.14, 4.38, and 9.46 in 1981–1990, 1991–2000, 2001–2010, and 2011–2020, respectively. The indirect economic burden caused by lung cancer was 10.515, 141.657, 813.794, and 6659.149 million yuan. From 2011 to 2020, the ratios of years of life lost due to premature mortality to DALY in males, females, and the general population were 92.42%, 95.15%, and 93.60%, respectively.

Conclusion The health burden and indirect economic burden for lung cancer are substantial in the Kunshan City. Moreover, age-specific DALY and indirect economic burden are not exactly symmetrical, suggesting that an effective control strategy to lower cost is urgently needed, especially for individuals aged 40-59.