Colorectal Cancer Deaths in Germany Drop 17% Over Two Decades

Improved therapies and expanded early detection programs drive progress, but an aging population threatens to reverse gains.

Between 2003 and 2023, colorectal cancer deaths in Germany decreased from 28,900 to 24,100, marking a 17% reduction.
Early detection programs, including insurance-covered colonoscopies introduced in 2003, have been instrumental in reducing both incidence and mortality rates.
Gender disparities persist, with women experiencing a 25% decline in colorectal cancer deaths compared to an 8% decline for men over the same period.
Hospitalizations due to colorectal cancer also fell by 30%, reflecting improvements in prevention and treatment options.
Experts warn that the aging population, with 71% of 2023 deaths occurring in individuals aged 70 or older, could challenge sustained progress.