Colon cancer statistics

In this article:

• What is colon cancer?
• How common is colon cancer?
• Latest success rates
• Why the statistics are changing for younger adults
• Mortality rates
• Risk factors
• FAQs

In this article

• What is colon cancer?
• How common is colon cancer?
• Latest success rates
• Why the statistics are changing for younger adults
• Mortality rates
• Risk factors
• FAQs

Chances are that you know someone who has had colon cancer. It is one of the most common cancer types. Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer, an umbrella term for cancers that start at the end of the digestive tract (either the colon or the rectum).

Colon cancer can happen to anyone, but the risk increases with age or family history (meaning, a close relative had colon cancer). The good news is that regular screenings can help catch colon cancer early. Colon cancer statistics suggest that early treatment can dramatically improve the chance of survival.

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer starts in the large intestine, or colon. Cancers develop when cells multiply uncontrollably and invade healthy tissue. Left unchecked, colon cancer cells can travel to form tumors in other body parts. Cancer that started in the colon but has spread to other body parts is called metastatic colon cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends regular colon cancer screenings as soon as you turn 45. Ask your healthcare provider to schedule an earlier screening if you experience signs of colon cancer, such as abdominal cramping, rectal bleeding, bloody stools, unintended weight loss, or unexplained changes in bowel habits. Screening at a younger age may also be recommended if you have a strong family history of colon cancer.

Depending on your age, family history, and risk factors, there are a variety of screening tests for colon cancer. Some tests may be performed at home with a doctor’s order, and others happen in a medical setting. The gold standard colon cancer screening test is a colonoscopy, during which a gastroenterologist will insert a scope into your rectum to examine the colon.

How common is colon cancer?

“The average lifetime risk sounds relatively low, around 4%, but it’s actually one of the more common cancers,” says Supriya Rao, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist.

• Aside from skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2026)
• Colon cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S. (ACS, 2026)
• It’s estimated that there will be about 108,860 new cases of colon cancer in the U.S. in 2026. (ACS, 2026)

Colon cancer statistics worldwide

• Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. (World Health Organization, 2022)
• Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths around the world. (WHO, 2022)
• In 2022, there were 1,926,425 new cases of colorectal cancer worldwide. (World Cancer Research Fund, 2026).

Colon cancer statistics in America

• About 3.9% of Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their lifetime. (National Cancer Institute, 2026).
• In the U.S., it is estimated that there will be 158,850 new cases of colon cancer in 2026. (NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 2026)
• In the U.S., it is estimated that there will be 55,230 deaths from colon cancer in 2026. (SEER, 2026)
• The rate of new cases of colon cancer in the U.S. has been slowly but steadily declining since 1985. (SEER, 2026)

Colon cancer statistics by age

Your risk of colon cancer increases with age, but it can still develop in children and younger adults.

• Colorectal cancer is most common after age 50. (ACS, 2026)
• From 2019 to 2023, nearly 24% of new colorectal cancer cases were in people aged 54 or younger. (SEER, 2026)
• Approximately 2.4% of new colon cancer diagnoses occurred in people 34 and younger. (SEER, 2026)
• The median age for diagnosis of colorectal cancer was 66. (SEER, 2026)
• From 2013 to 2022, the rate of colon cancer has increased by 2.9% each year for people younger than 50. (ACS, 2026)
• In that same time period, colon cancer rates have decreased by 0.4% each year for those 50 – 64. (ACS, 2026)

Colon cancer statistics by sex

• Men are more likely than women to get colon cancer. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025)
• Colorectal cancer is more likely to be fatal in men than in women. (ACS, 2026)
• In 2022, there were 1,069,446 cases among men and 856,979 among women worldwide. (World Cancer Research Fund, 2026)
• In the U.S., it is estimated that 55,410 men and 53,450 women will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2026. (ACS, 2026)

Colon cancer statistics by ethnicity

• In the U.S., colorectal cancer is most common in non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Native people, followed by non-Hispanic Black individuals. (SEER, 2026)
• In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the least common in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (SEER, 2026)
• In 2015, the rate of colorectal cancer was 15% higher in Black individuals than in White individuals. (ACS, 2023)
• From 2015 to 2019, Black individuals were more likely than any other ethnicity to be diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer. (ACS, 2023)

The survival story: Looking at the latest success rates

There is good news: Colon cancer survival rates are improving. The 5-year colon cancer survival rate, which is the percentage of people alive 5 years after diagnosis, has increased by 6% in the last 50 years. Specifically, the 5-year survival rate grew from 51% in the mid-1970s to 57% in the mid-2010s, according to statistics published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

The CA-reported survival rate statistics highlight the importance of catching colon cancer early, as the survival rate decreases sharply once colon cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Unfortunately, colon cancer does not always cause symptoms in the early stages. Scheduling your first colonoscopy at the recommended age of 45 (earlier for high-risk individuals) can go a long way toward preventing late-stage colon cancer. In 2026, the ACS also updated its guidelines to include at-home stool tests for colon cancer screening. “These new guidelines will allow more people to have access to screening, which is so important when it comes to early detection,” says Jennifer L. Armendariz, AOCNP, a certified family nurse practitioner and oncology specialist in El Paso, Texas. However, she and Dr. Rao advise that at-home tests should not replace a recommended colonoscopy.

Why the statistics are changing for younger adults

“Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in younger adults,” Dr. Rao says. “I am seeing people in their 30s and 40s more than I ever expected to.”

There are a few possible reasons for the uptick in colon cancer diagnoses in adults younger than 50. First, the recommended age for colon cancer screenings was recently lowered from age 50 to 45. That slight shift has increased colon cancer diagnoses positively: More adults between 45 and 50 are diagnosed with early-onset colon cancer that would have continued to spread if they had waited until age 50 for their first colonoscopy.

However, Dr. Rao says she also attributes the rise in colon cancer among younger adults to rising obesity rates, poor diets (more processed foods and red meat, less fiber), and “possible shifts in our gut microbiomes.”

Mortality rates and progress in treatment

As mentioned above, colon cancer mortality rates have decreased slightly in the last 50 years. Here are the 5-year survival rates from 2020-2024, based on how early the colon cancer was diagnosed:

• Early stage: 91% for localized colon cancer
• Mid-stage: 73% for regional colon cancer (wherein the cancer has only spread to nearby lymph nodes)
• Late-stage: 13% for distant colon cancer (wherein the cancer has spread to other regions of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or distant lymph nodes)

“Colon cancer is very treatable if caught early,” Dr. Rao emphasizes. Earlier colon cancer screenings have improved the mortality rate, but so have new treatments such as immunotherapy drugs. Other new treatments, such as robot-assisted surgery, may improve quality of life even if they do not extend life-span.

Risk factors and preventability

The best way to prevent advanced colon cancer is to schedule a colon cancer screening.

“Colonoscopy remains the gold standard,” Dr. Rao says. Colonoscopies enable healthcare providers (typically gastroenterologists) to detect and remove precancerous polyps before they turn cancerous.

According to the American Cancer Society, other ways to lower your risk include:

• A healthy weight. Research suggests that people with obesity have a 60% higher rate of colorectal cancer compared to those who maintain a healthy weight.
• Regular exercise. Working out for just one hour per week has been shown to reduce the prevalence of precancerous polyps in the colon.
• Less red or processed meat. Eating a lot of processed or red meat, such as beef, pork, or venison, is a known risk factor for colorectal cancer. High consumption could make you up to 28% more likely to develop colon cancer. Eating more processed meats (cured, dried, smoked) increases your risk of colon cancer by 17% or more.
• Stopping smoking. Research shows that quitting smoking for more than 20 years may lead to a 50% decrease in precancerous colon polyps.

Of course, there are factors outside your control that can increase the risk of colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer goes up with age. Men are more likely to get colon cancer than women. And Dr. Rao says people with inflammatory bowel disease (i.e., Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) have an inherently higher-than-average risk. There’s also genetic predisposition: Those with a personal or family history of colon polyps or cancer also have an increased risk.

While you cannot control risk factors you’re born with, getting regular colonoscopies and focusing on preventative lifestyle choices can go a long way, even for those with a higher-than-average colon cancer risk.

Colon cancer questions and answers

What are the odds of getting colon cancer?

The odds of getting colon cancer vary by individual. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer, and certain individuals may have higher-than-average odds, such as American Indian and Alaska Native people, people born male, people with a personal or family history of colon polyps, people with obesity, and people who smoke or eat a lot of red meat or processed meat.

Why is colon cancer so common now?

There are several reasons, including earlier colon cancer screenings (a positive, since that means it’s caught early), and an increase in risk factors like obesity and processed food consumption.

What is the survival rate for colon cancer?

The survival rate depends on whether the cancer was caught before it spread. According to SEER data from the National Institute of Health, people with localized colon cancer have about a 91% 5-year- survival rate, while those with metastatic colon cancer have about a 17% 5-year-survival rate.