FOI reference: FOI-2025-3135
You asked
I am writing to request information on age group–specific incidence of colorectal cancer for the years 2018–2022.
I have reviewed the Cancer Registrations Statistics, England publications for this period. However, the closest data I found relates to the overall incidence of colorectal cancer in males and females by year.
The publications also provide information on the proportion of different cancer types within each age group, but not the specific incidence of colorectal cancer by age group.
Could you please advise whether this information is available, or direct me to sources where I may find it?
We said
Thank you for your request.
We are no longer responsible for the production of statistics pertaining to new cancer incidences in the period specified. The cancer registration statistics, England, published by the ONS has data up to 2017. We therefore do not hold the data you have requested.
NHS England are now responsible for publishing these statistics and their latest publication provides statistics up to the year 2022 within Cancer Registration Statistics, England, 2022 with the 2023 publication due to be released 30 October 2025.
Public Health Scotland are responsible for producing statistics on newly diagnosed cases of cancer in Scotland, and the latest publication provides estimates up to December 2021. Public Health Wales are responsible for producing statistics on newly diagnosed cases of cancer and you can access their latest statistics using their cancer incidence in Wales which has data up to 2021. The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry are responsible for publishing official statistics on newly diagnosed cases of cancer in Northern Ireland. Their latest publication covers the years 1993 to 2022.
We hold mortality data for England and Wales. For Scotland and Northern Ireland data you will need to contact National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Centre, respectively.
Data on deaths registered up to 2023 with an underlying cause of colorectal cancer by sex and age-group in England and Wales can be accessed using NOMIS. The ONS defines colorectal cancer using the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision codes C18-C20.
Instructions for use of this service:
Select geography (England and Wales, regional, or by local authority)
Select age (all ages, or five-year age bands)
Select gender (total, or male or female)
Select rates (all births, rates, or percentage of population, for example)
Select format (Excel or CSV, for example)
For further information on mortality statistics please contact: Health.Data@ons.gov.uk. For further information or enquiries to NHS England on cancer incidence please contact england.contactus@nhs.net.