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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Iowa Value:
Percentage of adults ages 45-75 who reported receiving one or more of the recommended colorectal cancer screening tests within the recommended time interval: blood stool test within the past year; sigmoidoscopy within the past five years; colonoscopy within the past 10 years; stool DNA test within the past three years; virtual colonoscopy within the past five years or sigmoidoscopy within the past 10 years and blood stool test in the past year
Iowa Rank:
Percentage of adults ages 45-75 who reported receiving one or more of the recommended colorectal cancer screening tests within the recommended time interval: blood stool test within the past year; sigmoidoscopy within the past five years; colonoscopy within the past 10 years; stool DNA test within the past three years; virtual colonoscopy within the past five years or sigmoidoscopy within the past 10 years and blood stool test in the past year
80.4% - 73.6%
73.5% - 71.7%
71.6% - 69.9%
69.8% - 67.2%
67.1% - 61.4%
No Data
Percentage of adults ages 45-75 who reported receiving one or more of the recommended colorectal cancer screening tests within the recommended time interval: blood stool test within the past year; sigmoidoscopy within the past five years; colonoscopy within the past 10 years; stool DNA test within the past three years; virtual colonoscopy within the past five years or sigmoidoscopy within the past 10 years and blood stool test in the past year
US Value: 71.1 %
Top State(s): Rhode Island: 80.4 %
Bottom State(s): New Mexico: 61.4 %
Definition: Percentage of adults ages 45-75 who reported receiving one or more of the recommended colorectal cancer screening tests within the recommended time interval: blood stool test within the past year; sigmoidoscopy within the past five years; colonoscopy within the past 10 years; stool DNA test within the past three years; virtual colonoscopy within the past five years or sigmoidoscopy within the past 10 years and blood stool test in the past year
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
There is strong evidence that screening for colorectal cancer reduces the number of new cases and deaths from the disease by removing precancerous growths and increasing early detection, which is optimal for effective treatment. After peaking in 1985, colorectal cancer incidence rates decreased 46% by 2019, largely due to colonoscopy screening.
The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts & Figures report projects more than 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer and nearly 53,000 colorectal cancer deaths in 2025.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, screening for colorectal cancer, which may include fecal sample testing, colonoscopy and/or sigmoidoscopy, is recommended for adults ages 45-75. Screening at earlier ages is recommended for those with particular risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, excessive alcohol use and long-term smoking, or a family history of colorectal cancer.
Multiple studies have shown that screening for colorectal cancer is cost-effective compared with not screening.
According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, populations of adults ages 45-75 with a higher percentage of colorectal cancer screening include:
There are many strategies to increase colorectal cancer screening. The Community Guide — a collection of evidence-based findings of the Community Preventive Services Task Force — recommends a multicomponent approach. The guide lists several strategies that work best when used in combination. These strategies include:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has implemented a Colorectal Cancer Control Program to increase screening for targeted groups. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable offers resources to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in primary care.
Healthy People 2030 has an objective of increasing the proportion of adults who receive recommended colorectal cancer screening.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2025. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf.
DeGroff, Amy, Krishna Sharma, Anamika Satsangi, Kristy Kenney, Djenaba Joseph, Katherine Ross, Steven Leadbetter, et al. “Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening in Health Care Systems Using Evidence-Based Interventions.” Preventing Chronic Disease 15 (August 9, 2018): 180029. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180029.
Patel, Shaan S., and Meredith L. Kilgore. “Cost Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Screening Strategies.” Cancer Control: Journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center 22, no. 2 (April 2015): 248–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/107327481502200219.
Siegel, Rebecca L., Nikita Sandeep Wagle, Andrea Cercek, Robert A. Smith, and Ahmedin Jemal. “Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2023.” CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 73, no. 3 (May 2023): 233–54. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21772.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
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