A total of 4,995 cervical and 311 penile cancer cases were registered in the Madras Population-Based Cancer Registry at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Madras, India, in 1982-1990. The parameters analyzed were age at the time of diagnosis, educational level, marital status, and religion. Peak incidence of carcinoma of the cervix was seen in the age group 55-59 years. The incidence of penile cancer increased consistently with age. Among cervical cancer patients, the incidence was significantly higher among illiterates and among those who had an education for 12 years or less than among those with over 12 years of education. The incidence of cervical cancer was low among Muslim women compared to Hindu and Christian women, and penile cancer was not seen at all among Muslim men. Our results re-emphasize the importance of circumcision in the reduction of the risk of both cervical and penile cancers.