Odainn
Free risk check · real data

What is a 17-year-old boy in the United Kingdom 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 2,930
Next 10 years
0.48%
1 in 208
Life expectancy
80
about 63 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. 01Suicide27%
    0.13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  2. 02Accidental poisoning & overdose14%
    0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
  3. 03Road accidents11%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
  4. 04Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)8.2%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  5. 05Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)3.8%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.25%
  6. 06Other cancers3.4%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.3%
  7. 07Heart failure & other heart disease3.0%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.6%
  8. 08Congenital conditions2.8%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.18%
Show the other 33 causes26% together
  1. 09Other accidents2.7%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.62%
  2. 10Other causes2.4%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.7%
  3. 11Leukaemia & lymphoma2.3%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
  4. 12Drowning1.8%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
  5. 13Other digestive disease1.6%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.7%
  6. 14Homicide1.6%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  7. 15High blood pressure & other circulatory disease1.5%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.7%
  8. 16Brain cancer1.5%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.66%
  9. 17Falls1.2%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  10. 18Diabetes1.1%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  11. 19Heart attack & coronary heart disease1.1%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 12%
  12. 20Stroke0.97%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.9%
  13. 21Pneumonia & flu0.90%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.5%
  14. 22Other lung disease0.85%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.2%
  15. 23Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)0.80%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  16. 24COPD & chronic lung disease0.65%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.4%
  17. 25Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.61%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  18. 26Drug use disorder0.36%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  19. 27COVID-190.34%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
  20. 28Colorectal cancer0.29%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  21. 29Liver cancer0.27%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  22. 30Kidney disease0.21%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.73%
  23. 31Melanoma (skin cancer)0.18%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.47%
  24. 32Alcohol use disorder0.17%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.25%
  25. 33Complications around birth0.16%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
  26. 34Lung cancer0.15%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.7%
  27. 35Pancreatic cancer0.13%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  28. 36Other mental health conditions0.12%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
  29. 37Stomach cancer0.12%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.65%
  30. 38Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.10%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.86%
  31. 39Kidney cancer0.09%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.76%
  32. 40Bladder cancer0.06%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  33. 41Oesophageal cancer0.05%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%

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 the United Kingdom, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for the United Kingdom (2023–2024), ONS, NRS and NISRA. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

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Full page with comparisons: men aged 15–19 in the United Kingdom

How long people like this live: life expectancy.