Liver cancer is a major contributor to the world’s cancer burden and incidence rates have increased in many countries in recent decades. As the principal histologic type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for the great majority of liver cancer diagnoses and deaths. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain, at present, the most important global risk factors for HCC, but it is likely their importance will decline in the coming years. The effect of HBV vaccination of newborns, already seen in young adults in some countries, will be more notable as vaccinated cohorts age. In addition, effective treatments for chronic infections with both HBV and HCV should contribute to declines in the rates of viral-associated HCC. Unfortunately, the prevalence of metabolic risk factors for HCC, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, type II diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are increasing and may jointly become the major cause of HCC globally. Excessive alcoholic consumption also remains an intractable risk factor, as does aflatoxin contamination of food crops in some parts of the world. While significant efforts in early diagnosis and better treatment are certainly needed for HCC, primary prevention efforts aimed at decreasing the prevalence and obesity and diabetes and controlling mycotoxin growth, and are just as urgently required.