New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality. All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software. The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data
New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.
Age-Adjusted Rates of New Cases/Deaths Per 100,000 & 5-Year Relative Survival Percentages
Year
Rate of New Cases — SEER 8
Rate of New Cases — SEER 12
Death Rate — U.S.
5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
1975
60.07
60.51
-
-
28.09
28.55
49.39%
48.65%
1976
61.68
60.94
-
-
28.58
28.41
51.41%
49.65%
1977
62.22
61.37
-
-
28.19
28.26
51.37%
50.65%
1978
61.55
61.81
-
-
28.54
28.11
52.37%
51.63%
1979
61.78
62.25
-
-
28.15
27.97
51.96%
52.61%
1980
63.46
62.69
-
-
28.05
27.82
52.07%
53.57%
1981
63.36
63.13
-
-
27.52
27.68
55.23%
54.53%
1982
61.50
63.58
-
-
27.24
27.53
54.90%
55.47%
1983
62.99
64.03
-
-
27.12
27.39
55.42%
56.41%
1984
64.25
64.49
-
-
27.35
27.25
56.21%
57.33%
1985
66.63
64.94
-
-
26.93
26.77
59.21%
58.24%
1986
63.69
63.73
-
-
26.16
26.30
60.68%
59.14%
1987
61.96
62.53
-
-
25.89
25.84
60.84%
60.03%
1988
61.02
61.36
-
-
25.28
25.38
61.04%
60.90%
1989
60.44
60.21
-
-
25.01
24.94
60.71%
61.76%
1990
59.89
59.08
-
-
24.65
24.50
62.30%
62.61%
1991
58.34
57.97
-
-
24.01
24.07
62.61%
62.30%
1992
57.22
56.88
56.01
56.04
23.62
23.65
61.87%
62.00%
1993
55.93
55.81
54.80
54.84
23.31
23.23
60.77%
61.69%
1994
54.98
54.77
53.84
53.67
22.92
22.82
60.98%
61.37%
1995
53.12
53.74
52.45
52.52
22.59
22.42
60.47%
61.06%
1996
54.02
54.54
53.24
53.37
21.86
22.03
63.64%
62.00%
1997
55.35
55.36
54.41
54.23
21.47
21.64
62.81%
62.92%
1998
55.80
56.18
55.20
55.11
21.19
21.26
64.43%
63.83%
1999
55.03
54.90
53.85
53.92
20.93
20.89
65.31%
64.73%
2000
53.41
53.65
52.64
52.76
20.67
20.52
65.68%
65.60%
2001
52.61
52.42
51.74
51.62
20.16
20.16
67.00%
66.47%
2002
52.20
51.22
50.85
50.51
19.76
19.81
67.13%
67.31%
2003
50.12
50.06
49.53
49.42
19.15
19.06
66.44%
67.36%
2004
49.45
48.91
48.07
48.36
18.10
18.34
66.63%
67.40%
2005
47.08
47.80
46.72
47.32
17.56
17.64
67.64%
67.45%
2006
46.01
46.71
46.06
46.30
17.28
17.20
67.15%
67.49%
2007
45.48
45.64
45.32
45.30
16.91
16.76
67.67%
67.53%
2008
44.99
44.60
44.97
44.32
16.46
16.34
68.88%
67.58%
2009
42.74
42.61
42.66
42.61
15.81
15.92
67.62%
67.62%
2010
40.57
40.71
40.66
40.96
15.52
15.52
67.02%
67.67%
2011
39.42
38.89
39.45
39.38
15.14
15.13
66.97%
67.71%
2012
38.34
38.44
38.03
37.85
14.74
14.75
66.87%
67.76%
2013
37.15
37.99
36.91
37.46
14.54
14.50
67.31%
67.80%
2014
38.11
37.54
37.56
37.08
14.20
14.26
68.20%
67.84%
2015
36.78
37.10
36.59
36.70
14.11
14.02
68.09%
67.89%
2016
37.48
36.67
36.93
36.33
13.79
13.79
68.88%
67.93%
2017
36.28
36.24
35.94
35.95
13.60
13.56
-
67.98%
2018
35.14
35.82
35.18
35.59
13.27
13.34
-
68.02%
2019
34.79
35.40
34.74
35.22
12.95
13.11
-
68.06%
2020
31.56
34.99
31.50
34.86
12.72
12.90
-
68.11%
2021
35.23
34.58
34.88
34.51
12.79
12.68
-
68.15%
2022
-
-
-
-
12.62
12.47
-
68.19%
Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of colorectal cancer was 36.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 12.9 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and 2018–2022 deaths.
Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 4.0 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2018–2021 data, excluding 2020 due to COVID.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2021, there were an estimated 1,392,445 people living with colorectal cancer in the United States.
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Did You Know? Video Series
How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer?
Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.
5-Year Relative Survival
65.0%
Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from colorectal cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.
Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier colorectal cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For colorectal cancer, 34.8% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer is 91.1%.
Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Colorectal Cancer
Stage
Percent of Cases
5-Year Relative Survival
Localized Confined to Primary Site
35%
91.1%
Regional Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
36%
73.7%
Distant Cancer Has Metastasized
23%
15.7%
Unknown Unstaged
6%
48.8%
Percent of Cases by Stage
Localized (35%) Confined to Primary Site
Regional (36%) Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
Distant (23%) Cancer Has Metastasized
Unknown (6%) Unstaged
5-Year Relative Survival
SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Combined Summary Stage
Compared to other cancers, colorectal cancer is fairly common.
Rank
Common Types of Cancer
Estimated New Cases 2024
Estimated Deaths 2024
1.
Breast Cancer (Female)
310,720
42,250
2.
Prostate Cancer
299,010
35,250
3.
Lung and Bronchus Cancer
234,580
125,070
4.
Colorectal Cancer
152,810
53,010
5.
Melanoma of the Skin
100,640
8,290
6.
Bladder Cancer
83,190
16,840
7.
Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer
81,610
14,390
8.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
80,620
20,140
9.
Uterine Cancer
67,880
13,250
10.
Pancreatic Cancer
66,440
51,750
Colorectal cancer represents 7.6% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.
7.6%
In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 152,810 new cases of colorectal cancer and an estimated 53,010 people will die of this disease.
Who Gets This Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is more common in men than women and among the non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native population. The rate of new cases of colorectal cancer was 36.5 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 cases, age-adjusted.
Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Colorectal Cancer
Males
All Races
41.8
Hispanic
39.4
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
53.6
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
34.5
Non-Hispanic Black
49.4
Non-Hispanic White
42.0
Females
All Races
32.0
Hispanic
28.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
45.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
25.3
Non-Hispanic Black
36.8
Non-Hispanic White
32.4
All Races
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native
Non-Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic White
SEER 22 2017–2021, Age-Adjusted
Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Colorectal Cancer
Age Range
Percent of New Cases
<20
0.3%
20–34
2.0%
35–44
5.1%
45–54
15.2%
55–64
22.6%
65–74
25.7%
75–84
18.9%
>84
10.2%
Colorectal cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65–74.
Median Age At Diagnosis
66
SEER 22 2017–2021, All Races, Both Sexes
Who Dies From This Cancer?
For colorectal cancer, death rates increase with age. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 12.9 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2018–2022 deaths, age-adjusted.
Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Colorectal Cancer
Males
All Races
15.4
Hispanic
13.4
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
20.9
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
10.9
Non-Hispanic Black
21.3
Non-Hispanic White
15.2
Females
All Races
10.8
Hispanic
8.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
14.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
7.7
Non-Hispanic Black
13.5
Non-Hispanic White
10.9
All Races
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native
Non-Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic White
U.S. 2018–2022, Age-Adjusted
Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Colorectal Cancer
Age Range
Percent of Deaths
<20
0.0%
20–34
0.7%
35–44
2.9%
45–54
9.1%
55–64
19.3%
65–74
25.1%
75–84
23.5%
>84
19.3%
The percent of colorectal cancer deaths is highest among people aged 65–74.
Median Age At Death
72
U.S. 2018–2022, All Races, Both Sexes
Changes Over Time
Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.
Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new colorectal cancer cases have been falling on average 1.2% each year over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 1.7% each year over 2013–2022. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.
New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival
Rate of New Cases
Death Rate
New cases come from SEER 8. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality. All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software. The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data
5-Year Relative Survival
SEER 8 5-Year Relative Survival Percent from 1975–2016, All Races, Both Sexes. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Survival Model Software.
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SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by sex, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.
Figure: Gastrointestinal (digestive) system anatomy; shows esophagus, liver, stomach, colon, small intestine, rectum, and anus.
Figure: Anatomy of the Lower Digestive System
Figure: Gastrointestinal (digestive) system anatomy; shows esophagus, liver, stomach, colon, small intestine, rectum, and anus.
Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancer that starts in either of these organs may also be called colorectal cancer.
The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large bowel or colon. The last 6 inches are the rectum and the anal canal.
All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.
Suggested Citation
All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.
These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.
The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.
Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2024 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.
Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.
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Localized (35%)
Regional (36%)
Distant (23%)
Unknown (6%)
