Colorectal Cancer
24 February 2025
Introduction
Colorectal cancer was the third commonest cancer in Hong Kong. It accounted for 14.7% of all new cancer cases in 2022.
Incidence
There were 5 190 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2022, with 2 928 male cases and 2 262 female cases. The male to female ratio of incidence was about 1.3 to 1. The crude incidence rates of colorectal cancer were 87.3 for males and 56.7 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of colorectal cancer were 40.4 for males and 26.6 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of colorectal cancer of both sexes, males and females all had no significant trend over the past 40 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 2013 and 2022: -1.5%, -1.6% and -0.5% respectively).
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2022 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2022
| Notes: | * | Age-standardised incidence rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. | |
| Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. | ||
| Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. | ||
| Sources: | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
Mortality
Colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2023, 2 266 deaths were caused by colorectal cancer, accounting for 15.2% of all cancer deaths. The crude death rates of colorectal cancer were 38.7 for males and 22.8 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of colorectal cancer were 15.6 for males and 8.7 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of both sexes had no significant trend over the past 43 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 2014 and 2023: -1.9%).
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of males had no significant trend over the past 43 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: -1.2%).
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of females had a downward trend over the past 43 years (AAPC between 1981 and 2023: -0.4%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: -1.5%).
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2023
| Notes: | * | Age-standardised death rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. | |
| Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. | ||
| Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. | ||
| Sources: | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
Colorectal cancer corresponds to codes 153-154 in ICD-9 and C18-C21 in ICD-10.
For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.
For health information relating to cancer, please visit the Cancer Online Resource Hub.