Incidence

Over the course of a lifetime, approximately 1 in 25 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC).1 According to recent estimates, CRC is the third most common cancer in either men or women.2 In adults <50 years of age, CRC is now the first and second leading cause of death in men and women, respectively.2 Overall risk of CRC is slightly higher in men compared to women, with increasing incidence observed in adults >50 years of age.2,3

As of 2024, ~153,000 new cases of CRC are expected2,a

As of 2020, there are an estimated 1.38 million people living in the US with CRC4

Overall lifetime risk of CRC2 is 4.3% for men and 3.9% for women; CRC is the most common cause of cancer death in young men2

CRC IS A GROWING BURDEN IN ADULTS YOUNGER THAN 50 YEARS3,b

Colorectal Cancer Cases per 100,000 Persons Aged 20-49 Years

Line graph depicts colorectal cancer cases per 100,000 persons aged 20 to 49 years, comparing men and women over time. The graph’s timeline spans from 1975 to 2014 and cases roughly range between 8 and 12 per 100,000. A pattern of higher cases for men is shown with cases increasing over time.

Colorectal Cancer Cases per 100,000 Persons Aged >50 Years

Line graph depicts colorectal cancer cases per 100,000 persons over 50 years old, comparing men and women over time. The graph’s timeline spans from 1975 to 2014 and shows cases roughly range from 260 to 100 per 100,000 people. The graph shows that men consistently experience greater incidence of colorectal cancer than women, but a declining trend is shown for both men and women across time.
  • CRC incidence has gradually declined over the past 20 years in the >50-years population due to influence of screening rates and changes in exposure to risk factors3
  • Despite a general decrease across all age demographics, CRC incidence rates have increased by about 2% per year for individuals <50 years from 1998 to 20195
  • CRC incidence among adults <50 years increased 1.9% annually from 2011 to 20196
  • Learn more about young-onset disease/trends

Related Topics

Footnotes

  1. Estimated new cases are based on model‐based estimates that should be interpreted with caution and not compared with those for previous years. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10.
  2. Trends in CRC incidence rates by age (ages 20-49 and ages >50) and sex, 1975 to 2014.

List of definitions

CRC: colorectal cancer; NAACCR: North American Association of Central Cancer Registries; US: United States.


References

  1. ACS. Colorectal cancer. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8604.00.pdf
  2. Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2024. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(1):12-49.
  3. Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults: 2018 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(4):250-281.
  4. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
  5. ACS. Colorectal cancer facts and figures 2023-2025. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2023.
  6. Siegel RL, Wagle NS, Cercek A, et al. Colorectal cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin. 2023;73(3):233-254.