Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options
CDC Home

Colorectal Cancer Rates by Race and Ethnicity

The rate of people getting colorectal cancer or dying from colorectal cancer varies by race and ethnicity.

Incidence Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Sex

"Incidence rate" means how many people out of a given number get the disease each year. The graph below shows how many people out of 100,000 got colorectal cancer each year during the years 1999–2008. The year 2008 is the most recent year for which numbers have been reported. The colorectal cancer incidence rate is grouped by race and ethnicity.

For example, you can see that 2008, black people had the highest incidence rate for colorectal cancer. White people had the second highest rate of getting colorectal cancer, followed by Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native people.

Colorectal Cancer
Incidence Rates* by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, U.S., 1999–2008

Line charts showing the changes in colorectal cancer incidence rates for males and females of various races and ethnicities.

Incidence source: Combined data from the National Program of Cancer Registries as submitted to CDC and from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program as submitted to the National Cancer Institute in November 2010.
*Rates are per 100,000 persons and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population (19 age groups – Census P25-1130). Incidence rates cover approximately 100% of the U.S. population.
Hispanic origin is not mutually exclusive from race categories (white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native).

Death Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Sex

From 1999–2008, the rate of people dying from colorectal cancer has varied, depending on their race and ethnicity. The graph below shows that in 2008, black people were more likely to die of colorectal cancer than any other group. White people had the second highest rate of deaths from colorectal cancer, followed by people who are Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander.

Colorectal Cancer
Death Rates* by Race/Ethnicity and Sex, U.S., 1999–2008

Line charts showing the changes in colorectal cancer death rates for males and females of various races and ethnicities.

Mortality source: U.S. Mortality Files, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC.
*Rates are per 100,000 persons and are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population (19 age groups – Census P25-1130). Death rates cover 100% of the U.S. population.
Hispanic origin is not mutually exclusive from race categories (white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native).

 
Contact Us:
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
    4770 Buford Hwy NE
    MS K-64
    Atlanta, GA 30341
  • 800-CDC-INFO
    (800-232-4636)
    TTY: (888) 232-6348
    8am–8pm ET
    Monday–Friday
    Closed on Holidays
  • cdcinfo@cdc.gov
USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348 - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
A-Z Index
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
  6. F
  7. G
  8. H
  9. I
  10. J
  11. K
  12. L
  13. M
  14. N
  15. O
  16. P
  17. Q
  18. R
  19. S
  20. T
  21. U
  22. V
  23. W
  24. X
  25. Y
  26. Z
  27. #