Recent information concerning cholesterol levels and coronary disease rates is reviewed. Large cross-sectional studies that have standardized cholesterol measurements, as well as longitudinal studies that have focused on coronary end points, are emphasized. Estimates of extreme and moderate hypercholesterolemia from large surveys are offered, and techniques of reporting and presenting data with cumulative probability distributions are discussed. International trends of cholesterol levels and coronary disease rates are described, with particular reference to data from multicenter investigations, migration studies, and demonstration projects.