Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is recognized as one of the major causes of infection-related cancer in both men and women. High-risk HPV types are not only responsible for virtually all cervical cancer cases but also for a fraction of cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and head and neck cancers. Furthermore, HPV is also the cause of anogenital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Despite the availability of multiple preventative strategies, HPV-related cancer remains a leading cause of morbi-mortality in many parts of the world, particularly in less developed countries. Thus, in this review, we summarize the latest estimates of the global burden of HPV-related diseases, trends, the attributable fraction by HPV types, and the potential preventative fraction. •HPV is responsible of 4.5% (630,000) of all new cancer cases worldwide.•Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.•HPV16 is consistently the most frequent genotype in all HPV-related cancer sites.•Universal HPV vaccination could prevent between 70% and 90% of HPV-related disease.•Increasing trends in HPV-related anal and head and neck cancers have been observed in the last decade.