Bowel cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 17,400 deaths every year. Mortality rates are higher in males, making it the 3rd most common cause of cancer death in this demographic.
View more detailed gender stats on our dashboard for bowel cancer
Mortality rates for bowel cancer in the UK are highest in people aged 90+, with around 11.4% of all bowel cancer deaths occurring in this age group (2021-2023).
View more detailed age stats on our dashboard for bowel cancer
Bowel cancer mortality rates have decreased by almost half (45%) in the UK since the early 1970s, and rates have decreased by more than a twentieth (7%) in the last decade (2021-2023).
View more detailed trends stats on our dashboard for bowel cancer
Bowel cancer mortality rates in the UK are projected to decrease by 9% between 2024-2026 and 2038-2040, with around 19,100 deaths each year by 2038-2040.
View more detailed projections stats on our dashboard for bowel cancer
Mortality rates for lower GI cancer (which includes bowel cancer) in the UK in females are 22% higher in the most deprived quintile compared with the least, and rates in males are 27% higher in the most deprived quintile compared with the least.
Around 1,700 deaths from lower GI cancer each year in the UK are linked with deprivation (around 650 in females, and around 1,000 in males).
View mortality by deprivation statistics and charts on our cancer statistics data hub
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