Colorectal cancer remains a major U.S. health concern, with an estimated 158,850 new cases and 55,230 deaths expected in 2026. The statistics below can help patients, families, and caregivers understand the disease burden, survival differences, and screening patterns.
Contents
- At-a-glance U.S. figures
- Incidence and mortality by sex and population
- Age and diagnosis patterns
- Stage and survival
- Trends, risk factors, and the caregiver context
- Screening recommendations and participation
- Screening gaps by demographic and access measures
At-a-glance U.S. figures
The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Stat Facts estimates 158,850 new colorectal cancer cases in the United States in 2026 and 55,230 deaths from the disease in the same year. Colorectal cancer accounts for 7.5% of all new cancer cases and is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States.
SEER reports an age-adjusted incidence rate of 37.6 cases per 100,000 men and women per year, based on cases diagnosed from 2019 through 2023. The age-adjusted death rate is 12.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year, based on deaths from 2020 through 2024. These rates are different from the 2026 counts: the counts are estimates for one future year, while the rates summarize specified historical measurement periods.
About 3.9% of men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point during their lifetime, according to SEER. In 2023, an estimated 1,478,528 people were living with colorectal cancer in the United States. The 5-year relative survival rate for colorectal cancer is 65.4%.
The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 estimated 106,590 colon cancer cases and 46,220 rectal cancer cases in the United States in 2024. It estimated 53,010 deaths from colon and rectal cancers combined in 2024. These ACS figures use a different year and source publication than the SEER 2026 estimates and should not be treated as the same forecast.
Incidence and mortality by sex and population
SEER reports an incidence rate of 42.7 per 100,000 for males of all races and 33.0 per 100,000 for females of all races. The corresponding colorectal cancer death rates are 15.1 per 100,000 for males of all races and 10.7 per 100,000 for females of all races.
The reported incidence rates also vary across race and ethnicity categories. Among males, the rate is 59.5 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native males, 50.1 for non-Hispanic Black males, and 42.9 for non-Hispanic White males. Among females, the rate is 44.6 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native females, 37.1 for non-Hispanic Black females, and 33.6 for non-Hispanic White females.
SEER’s reported death rates show the same need for attention to population differences. The colorectal cancer death rate is 21.3 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native males and 20.5 for non-Hispanic Black males. For females, the rate is 14.9 per 100,000 among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native females and 13.2 among non-Hispanic Black females.
| SEER group | Incidence rate per 100,000 | Death rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Males, all races | 42.7 | 15.1 |
| Females, all races | 33.0 | 10.7 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native males | 59.5 | 21.3 |
| Non-Hispanic Black males | 50.1 | 20.5 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native females | 44.6 | 14.9 |
| Non-Hispanic Black females | 37.1 | 13.2 |
The figures are population-level rates, not a prediction of an individual’s outcome. For a family caregiver, they are most useful for understanding why access, communication, and culturally responsive support may matter across different communities.
Age and diagnosis patterns
The median age at colorectal cancer diagnosis is 66, according to SEER. New diagnoses are distributed across age groups, with the largest share occurring among people ages 65 to 74: 25.9% of new cases. People ages 55 to 64 account for 22.3%, while those ages 75 to 84 account for 18.6%.
People ages 45 to 54 account for 15.9% of new colorectal cancer cases. The share is 5.3% among ages 35 to 44 and 2.1% among ages 20 to 34. People younger than 20 account for 0.3% of new cases, and people older than 84 account for 9.6%.
Deaths are also concentrated among older adults. SEER reports that 25.6% of colorectal cancer deaths occur among people ages 65 to 74, and the median age at colorectal cancer death is 72. These figures can help caregivers anticipate that support needs may intersect with aging, other health conditions, transportation, and treatment coordination, although the statistics do not measure any individual family’s circumstances.
Stage and survival
Stage at diagnosis is closely associated with reported 5-year relative survival. SEER reports that 33.8% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at the local stage, when the cancer is limited to its site of origin. The 5-year relative survival for localized colorectal cancer is 91.3%.
Regional-stage cancers account for 37% of diagnoses, and the 5-year relative survival for regional colorectal cancer is 75.2%. Distant-stage cancers account for 23% of diagnoses, with a reported 5-year relative survival of 16.9%. Another 6% of colorectal cancers are unstaged or have an unknown stage; the 5-year relative survival for this group is 49.7%.
| SEER stage at diagnosis | Share of diagnoses | 5-year relative survival |
|---|---|---|
| Localized | 33.8% | 91.3% |
| Regional | 37% | 75.2% |
| Distant | 23% | 16.9% |
| Unstaged or unknown | 6% | 49.7% |
Across all stages combined, the reported 5-year relative survival rate is 65.4%. Relative survival compares people with cancer with similar people in the general population; it is a population statistic rather than an individual prognosis. A caregiver should discuss a specific diagnosis, stage, treatment plan, and likely support needs with the patient’s clinical team.
Trends, risk factors, and the caregiver context
SEER reports that age-adjusted colorectal cancer incidence rates fell by 0.5% per year from 2014 through 2023. Age-adjusted death rates fell by 1.3% per year from 2015 through 2024. These are average annual trends over the stated periods, not a guarantee that rates decline every year or that every population experiences the same pattern.
The ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 reports that colorectal cancer mortality rates dropped 56%, from 29.2 per 100,000 in 1970 to 12.8 per 100,000 in 2021. The same publication reports that mortality rates among people younger than 55 have increased by about 1% per year since the mid-2000s. It also estimates that 55% of colorectal cancers in the United States are attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors.
For caregivers, these trends provide context without assigning blame. A diagnosis can affect work, transportation, meals, appointments, medication routines, and emotional wellbeing. The statistics establish the scale of need, while each household must determine what practical support is appropriate for its own situation.
Screening recommendations and participation
The CDC Colorectal Cancer Screening page states that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults ages 45 to 75. For adults ages 76 to 85, the CDC says screening decisions should be made on an individual basis.
Screening participation remains below the Healthy People 2030 target. The CDC’s Use of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests reports that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults ages 50 to 75 are up to date with screening. A CDC Preventing Chronic Disease baseline-estimates article reports that 61.4% of adults ages 45 to 75 were up to date in the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. The Healthy People 2030 target is 72.8%.
Age differences are substantial. In 2022, 29.8% of adults ages 45 to 49 were up to date with colorectal cancer screening, and 65.7% had never been screened. Among adults ages 50 to 64, 66.9% were up to date. Among adults ages 65 to 75, 81.5% were up to date.
The same CDC baseline estimates report that 60.0% of men ages 45 to 75 and 62.8% of women ages 45 to 75 were up to date in 2022. Screening participation was 52.4% among Hispanic adults, 65.0% among non-Hispanic Black adults, and 63.5% among non-Hispanic White adults in this age range.
Screening gaps by demographic and access measures
In 2022, 46.6% of adults who did not graduate from high school were up to date with colorectal cancer screening, compared with 67.2% of adults who graduated from college or technical school. Among adults with annual household income below $15,000, 51.8% were up to date, compared with 67.2% of adults with annual household income of at least $75,000.
The CDC baseline estimates also report a difference by residence: 61.9% of adults living in metropolitan areas were up to date, compared with 58.7% of adults living in nonmetropolitan areas. Health-plan access was associated with a larger gap: 28.7% of adults without a health plan were up to date.
Having an established source of care was also associated with screening participation. In 2022, 64.6% of adults with a personal doctor were up to date, compared with 18.0% of adults who had never had a routine checkup. Among adults who had a routine checkup within the past year, 66.4% were up to date.
| 2022 CDC measure | Up to date with screening |
|---|---|
| Ages 45–49 | 29.8% |
| Ages 50–64 | 66.9% |
| Ages 65–75 | 81.5% |
| Without a health plan | 28.7% |
| With a personal doctor | 64.6% |
| No routine checkup ever | 18.0% |
| Routine checkup within the past year | 66.4% |
For a caregiver, these numbers can point to practical questions: whether the person has a regular clinician, whether transportation or coverage is a barrier, and whether an appointment is needed to discuss an appropriate screening decision. Screening recommendations are population guidance; an individual’s clinician can account for medical history and personal circumstances.