Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer in men and the second most commonly occurring cancer in women. There were over 1.8 million new cases in 2018. The top 25 countries with the highest rates of colorectal cancer in 2018 are given in the tables below.
The Continuous Update Project Panel judged there was strong evidence that consuming processed meat, red meat and alcoholic drinks, greater body fatness and adult attained height increase the risk of colorectal cancer. There was also strong evidence that physical activity is protective against colon cancer specifically and that wholegrains, foods containing dietary fibre, dairy products and calcium supplements decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.
> Read about all the evidence in our Third Expert Report
Colorectal cancer is considered one of the clearest markers of epidemiological and nutritional transition, with incidence rates of this cancer – together with other cancers linked to Western lifestyles – increasing as previous high rates of infection-related cancers decline in countries that are undergoing rapid societal and economic changes1,2,3. See and compare cancer statistics in more and less developed countries here.
We also fund research on colorectal cancer through our regular grant programme. Read the findings here.
Age-standardised rates are used in the tables. This is a summary measure of the rate of disease that a population would have if it had a standard age structure. Standardisation is necessary when comparing populations that differ with respect to age because age has a powerful influence on the risk of dying from cancer.
Colorectal cancer rates: both sexes
Hungary had the highest rate of colorectal cancer in 2018, followed by South Korea.
| Rank | Country | Age-standardised rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hungary | 51.2 |
| 2 | South Korea | 44.5 |
| 3 | Slovakia | 43.8 |
| 4 | Norway | 42.9 |
| 5 | Slovenia | 41.1 |
| 6 | Denmark | 41.0 |
| 6 | Portugal | 40.0 |
| 8= | Barbados | 38.9 |
| 8= | Japan | 38.9 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 37.8 |
| 11 | Australia | 36.9 |
| 12 | Singapore | 36.8 |
| 13 | Serbia | 36.7 |
| 14= | Belgium | 35.3 |
| 14= | New Zealand | 35.3 |
| 16= | Uruguay | 35.0 |
| 16= | Brunei | 35.0 |
| 18 | Moldova | 34.2 |
| 19 | Croatia | 34.1 |
| 20 | Ireland | 34.0 |
| 21 | Spain | 33.4 |
| 22 | Latvia | 33.0 |
| 23 | Czech Republic | 32.7 |
| 24 | UK | 32.1 |
| 25 | Belarus | 31.8 |
Colorectal cancer rates in men
Hungary had the highest rate of colorectal cancer in men 2018, followed by Slovakia.
| Rank | Country | Age-standardised rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hungary | 70.6 |
| 2 | Slovakia | 60.7 |
| 3 | South Korea | 59.5 |
| 4 | Slovenia | 58.9 |
| 5 | Portugal | 54.0 |
| 6 | Barbados | 50.3 |
| 7 | Japan | 49.1 |
| 8 | Serbia | 49.0 |
| 9 | Moldova | 47.3 |
| 10 | Norway | 46.9 |
| 11= | Denmark | 45.9 |
| 11= | Croatia | 45.9 |
| 13 | Netherlands | 45.3 |
| 14 | Spain | 45.2 |
| 15= | Uruguay | 43.8 |
| 15= | Belgium | 43.8 |
| 17 | Brunei | 43.4 |
| 18 | Latvia | 42.6 |
| 19 | Czech Republic | 42.5 |
| 20 | Ireland | 42.4 |
Colorectal cancer rates in women
Norway had the highest rate of colorectal cancer in 2018, followed by Hungary.
| Rank | Country | Age-standardised rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 39.3 |
| 2 | Hungary | 36.8 |
| 3 | Denmark | 36.6 |
| 4 | Singapore | 34.0 |
| 5 | Australia | 32.4 |
| 6 | South Korea | 31.3 |
| 7 | Slovakia | 31.2 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 31.1 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 30.8 |
| 10 | Japan | 29.6 |
| 11 | Barbados | 28.8 |
| 12 | Portugal | 28.7 |
| 13 | Uruguay | 28.3 |
| 14 | Jamaica | 28.2 |
| 15= | Canada | 28.0 |
| 15= | Belgium | 28.0 |
| 17 | Latvia | 27.7 |
| 18 | Brunei | 27.4 |
| 19 | UK | 27.0 |
| 20 | Ireland | 26.4 |