Colorectal Cancer
23 January 2026
Introduction
Colorectal cancer was the third commonest cancer in Hong Kong. It accounted for 14.4% of all new cancer cases in 2023.
Incidence
There were 5 467 new cases of colorectal cancer in 2023, with 3 169 male cases and 2 298 female cases. The male to female ratio of incidence was about 1.4 to 1. The crude incidence rates of colorectal cancer were 92.3 for males and 56.0 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of colorectal cancer were 41.2 for males and 25.2 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 41 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 2014 and 2023: -1.9%, -1.9% and -1.8% 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 2023 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2023
| Notes : | 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. |
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| * | 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. |
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| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
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| Sources : | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
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Mortality
Colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2024, 2 322 deaths were caused by colorectal cancer, accounting for 15.4% of all cancer deaths. The crude death rates of colorectal cance were 38.2 for males and 24.7 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of colorectal cance were 15.1 for males and 9.0 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of both sexes had a downward trend over the past 44 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1981 and 2024: -0.3%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2015 and 2024: -2.1%).
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of males had no significant trend over the past 44 years, while a downward trend was observed over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2015 and 2024: -1.2%).
The age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer of females had a downward trend over the past 44 years (AAPC between 1981 and 2024: -0.5%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2015 and 2024: -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 2024 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of colorectal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2024
| Notes : | 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. |
|
| * | 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 death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. |
|
| Sources : | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
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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.