What to know
Incidence and death rates, by sex
Males had higher rates than females of being disgnosed with and dying from colorectal cancer.
Stage distribution
From 2019 to 2023, about 1 in 3 colorectal cancer cases were diagnosed at a localized stage, meaning the cancer had not spread outside the colon or rectum. Almost 4 in 10 colorectal cancers were found at a regional stage (the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, tissues, or organs), and about 2 in 10 were found at a distant stage (the cancer had spread to distant parts of the body).
5-year relative survival
Relative survival estimates whether colorectal cancer shortens a patient’s life. Overall, 65% of colorectal cancer patients had not died from their cancer 5 years later. However, survival rates differed depending on the stage at which the cancer was detected.
Survival is higher when colorectal cancer is found before it spreads to other parts of the body. Screening tests can prevent colorectal cancer or find it early, when treatment works best.
5-year limited duration prevalence
Among people diagnosed with colorectal cancer from 2018 to 2022, 489,058 were still alive on January 1, 2023.
Impact of COVID-19
Data sources
Data are from U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics.
U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data are from population-based registries that participate in CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, or both programs and have met high-quality data criteria for data submitted in 2025, covering 100% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics death data are from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System and cover 100% of the U.S. population.
U.S. Cancer Statistics survival and prevalence data are from 40 NPCR registries that have met high-quality data criteria for the 2025 data submission and conducted linkage with the National Death Index and/or active patient follow-up, covering 90.1% of the U.S. population. Five-year relative survival estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2016 to 2022. Five-year limited-duration prevalence estimates are based on cases diagnosed from 2018 to 2022.