Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Age, as well as male gender, results in a greater rate of death related to CRC. Encompassing all ages and genders, it is estimated that nearly 53,000 people in the United States will die in 2023 due to CRC.1
All Cancers in America
~1.9 MILLION new cancer cases expected1
~609,000 cancer deaths expected1
Top 5 Cancers by Number of Cancer Deaths (US, 2023)1a
52,550 colorectal cancer deaths expected in 2023, making it the 2nd leading cause of cancer mortality in the US in both sexes combined1
One study found that among those who died from CRC, 76% were not up to date with screening.2,b Learn more about the value of timely screening
Colorectal Cancer Deaths by Age and Gender
|
Estimated Number of Colorectal Cancer Cases and Deaths in the US in 2023 By Age1,a |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CASES |
DEATHS | |||
| AGE | COLORECTUM | COLON | RECTUM | COLORECTUMc |
| 0-49 years | 19,550 | 12,370 | 7180 | 3750 |
| 50-64 years | 48,210 | 29,800 | 18,410 | 13,160 |
| 65+ years | 85,260 | 64,800 | 20,460 | 36,640 |
| All ages | 153,020 | 106,970 | 46,050 | 52,550 |
- As with most cancers, the risk of CRC and CRC-related death increases with age3,4
- Learn more about CRC incidence
COLORECTAL CANCER MORTALITY (2016-2020)1,d
- Cancer deaths have been generally decreasing since their peak in 1991, largely related to improvements in early detection and treatment1
- Death due to CRC has decreased by 53% since 1980 in males and by 59% since 1969 in females1
* Rounded to the nearest 10
References
1 Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, et al. Cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin. 2023;73(1):17-48.
2 Doubeni CA, Fedewa SA, Levin TR, et al. Modifiable failures in the colorectal cancer screening process and their association with risk of death. Gastroenterol. 2019;156(1);63-74.
3 Siegel RL, Miller KD, Wagle NS, et al. Colorectal cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020;73(3):233-254
4 American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2023-2025. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2023.
Footnotes
a Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10 and exclude in situ carcinoma. Values are based on estimates for 2023.
b Data are from a retrospective cohort study of patients in the Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California systems (55-90 years old) who died of CRC from 2006 through 2012 and had at least 5 years of enrollment before diagnosis. Data were compared to a matched cohort of cancer-free patients in the same system. Of 1750 CRC deaths identified, 75.6% occurred in patients who were not up-to-date with CRC screening.
c Deaths for colon and rectal cancers are combined because a large number of rectal cancer deaths are misclassified as colon.
d Rates are per 100,000 population and age adjusted to the 2000 US standard population. All race groups are exclusive of Hispanic origin.
To reduce racial misclassification, incidence rates are limited to Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area counties and morality rates (for the entire United States) are adjusted using factors published by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Last Updated: 06/04/2023