Free risk check · real data

What is a 42-year-old woman in the Netherlands 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

Sex at birth

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

Next 12 months

0.08%

1 in 1,244

Next 10 years

1.3%

1 in 80

Life expectancy

about 42 more years on average

Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

01Breast cancer14%
0.17% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
02Suicide7.8%
0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.37%
03Lung cancer7.2%
0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.6%
04Other cancers7.0%
0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.7%
05Colorectal cancer6.0%
0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
06Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)4.5%
0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
07Uterine & ovarian cancer3.7%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
08Stroke3.7%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.0%

Show the other 36 causes46% together

09Other causes3.2%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.8%
10High blood pressure & other circulatory disease3.1%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.4%
11Other mental health conditions2.6%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.51%
12Other digestive disease2.6%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.1%
13Pancreatic cancer2.5%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
14Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)2.4%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.35%
15Heart failure & other heart disease2.3%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 11%
16Cervical cancer1.9%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.18%
17Brain cancer1.9%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.38%
18COPD & chronic lung disease1.9%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
19Heart attack & coronary heart disease1.9%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.1%
20Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.8%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.8%
21Leukaemia & lymphoma1.8%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
22Pneumonia & flu1.4%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.6%
23Congenital conditions1.4%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
24Accidental poisoning & overdose1.3%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
25Melanoma (skin cancer)1.3%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.36%
26Stomach cancer1.0%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.48%
27Diabetes1.0%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
28Alcohol use disorder0.90%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.14%
29Road accidents0.85%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.20%
30Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.83%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.38%
31COVID-190.80%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
32Kidney disease0.66%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
33Bladder cancer0.64%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.46%
34Liver cancer0.61%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.54%
35Other lung disease0.61%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
36Other accidents0.61%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
37Oesophageal cancer0.57%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.61%
38Falls0.55%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.4%
39Homicide0.55%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
40Kidney cancer0.32%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
41Drug use disorder0.22%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
42Dementia & Alzheimer's0.21%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 16%
43Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.21%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
44Drowning0.05%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%

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 113, 113 Zelfmoordpreventie — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like a 42-year-old woman in the Netherlands, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for the Netherlands (2023), Eurostat. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

— send it to someone you love.

Full page with comparisons: women aged 40–44 in the Netherlands

How long people like this live: life expectancy.

What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for a 42-year-old woman in the Netherlands

Blood pressure check
every year from 40 (every 3 years before)
Cervical screening (HPV test)
HPV test at 30, 35 and 40 — then at 50 and 60 if negative
Blood sugar test (diabetes)
every 3 years from 35

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Bowel cancer in the family — earlier bowel check
often a colonoscopy every 5 years from 40 (or 10 years before your relative's age at diagnosis, if earlier) · ask your doctor
Early heart attack or stroke in the family — cholesterol & heart-risk check
now, whatever your age — then as advised · ask your doctor
Breast or ovarian cancer in the family — risk check and genetic counselling
ask your doctor once — you may be offered earlier mammograms (often yearly from 40) or a gene test

Based on the RIVM population screening programmes and European guidelines. Your doctor may suggest more, or sooner, depending on your health. Educational, not medical advice.

Make it personal

Do you smoke?

We never store your answer with anything that identifies you — it stays on this device until you create an account, then carries over. Educational, not medical advice.