Background: In recent years, the 5 year survival following cancer diagnosis is about two thirds. Among patients with various chronic diseases, improved survival is known to be associated with higher income and education. The aim of the current study is to assess the influence of income and education on survival following cancer diagnosis in Israel. Methods: Retrospective cohort study, using baseline measurement from the 1995 census conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel. Cancer data were obtained from the Israel Cancer Registry. Cox proportional hazards ratios were calculated for mortality among cancer patients and adjusted for age, sex, religious, income and education years. The first model excluded cancers associated with early detection (breast, prostate, colorectal and cervix), and a second model excluded also lung cancer in order to control for smoking which is common in lower socioeconomic status. Results: A total of 3,712 cases of cancer and 1,252 deaths were reported during the study period. Higher income (HR=0.985 per 1000NIS, approximately 330$ in 1995's value, p=0.016) and education (HR=0.957 per year of education, p<0.001) were associated with decreased risk of death after cancer diagnosis. Jews had better prognosis than non-Jews following cancer diagnosis (HR=0.62, p<0.001), while males (HR=1.54, p<0.001) and age (HR=1.036 per year, p<0.001) had been associated with worse prognosis. The association between higher income and education was not changed in a model which excluded lung cancer. Conclusions: Higher income and education are associated with improved survival after cancer diagnosis. In the light of current study, further studies are needed to depict the variation in cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis and treatment disparities related to socioeconomic variables.