Odainn
Free risk check · real data

What is a 17-year-old boy in Ireland most likely to die from?

Move the controls. The answer comes from official mortality statistics for 37 countries in Europe and North America — and it surprises almost everyone.

Country
Age
17
Sex at birth

Official mortality statistics are published by sex at birth, which is why we ask.

Next 12 months
0.03%
1 in 3,680
Next 10 years
0.42%
1 in 238
Life expectancy
81
about 64 more years on average
The surpriseAt 17, the top risk in the next 10 years isn't aging — it's suicide.
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Suicide30%
    0.13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
  2. 02Road accidents14%
    0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.26%
  3. 03Accidental poisoning & overdose13%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.70%
  4. 04Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)5.5%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  5. 05Other cancers5.1%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.3%
  6. 06Drowning3.9%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.19%
  7. 07Congenital conditions3.1%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.19%
  8. 08Other accidents2.6%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
Show the other 23 causes22% together
  1. 09Heart failure & other heart disease2.3%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.4%
  2. 10Brain cancer2.1%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.70%
  3. 11Other digestive disease1.9%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  4. 12Heart attack & coronary heart disease1.7%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 15%
  5. 13Homicide1.5%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  6. 14Other lung disease1.2%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.1%
  7. 15Other causes1.1%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.8%
  8. 16Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)1.0%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
  9. 17Stroke0.95%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
  10. 18Falls0.90%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.86%
  11. 19Colorectal cancer0.86%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.1%
  12. 20High blood pressure & other circulatory disease0.71%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.8%
  13. 21Oesophageal cancer0.62%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  14. 22Diabetes0.62%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
  15. 23Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.62%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.83%
  16. 24Other mental health conditions0.62%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.18%
  17. 25Leukaemia & lymphoma0.57%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
  18. 26Pneumonia & flu0.57%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.0%
  19. 27Kidney disease0.57%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
  20. 28Drug use disorder0.48%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  21. 29Melanoma (skin cancer)0.33%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.61%
  22. 30Stomach cancer0.24%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.97%
  23. 31Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.24%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.85%

Some of these risks are about mental health and substances. They are among the most preventable — if you or someone you love is struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123 — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like a 17-year-old boy in Ireland, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Ireland (2023), Eurostat. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

— send it to someone you love.

Full page with comparisons: men aged 15–19 in Ireland

How long people like this live: life expectancy.