Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world, with nearly 1.4 million new cases diagnosed in 2012.
Approximately 95 per cent of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. Other types of cancer that can occur here include mucinous carinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas.
Republic of Korea had the highest rate of colorectal cancer, followed by Slovakia and Hungary.
About 54 per cent of colorectal cancer cases occurred in more developed countries.
The highest incidence of colorectal cancer was in Oceania and Europe and the lowest incidence in Africa and Asia.