Odainn
Free risk check · real data

What is a 17-year-old boy in Iceland 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
0.04%
1 in 2,311
Next 10 years
0.55%
1 in 183
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 accidental poisoning & overdose.
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Accidental poisoning & overdose42%
    0.23% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  2. 02Suicide27%
    0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  3. 03Brain cancer6.1%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.99%
  4. 04Road accidents6.1%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.41%
  5. 05Other cancers5.1%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
  6. 06Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)5.1%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
  7. 07Heart failure & other heart disease2.8%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 8.3%
  8. 08Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)1.9%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
Show the other 4 causes3.8% together
  1. 09Other lung disease0.95%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.93%
  2. 10Drug use disorder0.95%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  3. 11Homicide0.95%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
  4. 12Other accidents0.95%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%

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 the Red Cross helpline on 1717 — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like a 17-year-old boy in Iceland, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Iceland (2018, 2019 and 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 Iceland

How long people like this live: life expectancy.