Odainn
Free risk check · real data

What is an 87-year-old woman 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
87
Sex at birth

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

Next 12 months
9.2%
1 in 11
Next 10 years
81%
about 8 in 10
Life expectancy
93
about 6 more years on average
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Dementia & Alzheimer's16%
    13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 16%
  2. 02Heart failure & other heart disease12%
    9.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 13%
  3. 03Heart attack & coronary heart disease12%
    9.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 12%
  4. 04Stroke6.6%
    5.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.5%
  5. 05High blood pressure & other circulatory disease6.4%
    5.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.8%
  6. 06COPD & chronic lung disease4.9%
    4.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.7%
  7. 07Other causes4.9%
    4.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  8. 08Pneumonia & flu4.6%
    3.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
Show the other 33 causes33% together
  1. 09Other lung disease4.0%
    3.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.9%
  2. 10Other digestive disease3.6%
    2.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
  3. 11Other cancers2.7%
    2.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.6%
  4. 12COVID-192.2%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.3%
  5. 13Diabetes2.1%
    1.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
  6. 14Colorectal cancer2.0%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  7. 15Breast cancer1.9%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  8. 16Lung cancer1.6%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  9. 17Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.3%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  10. 18Parkinson's disease1.2%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  11. 19Kidney disease1.2%
    0.99% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  12. 20Leukaemia & lymphoma1.2%
    0.98% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  13. 21Other accidents1.1%
    0.91% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  14. 22Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)1.0%
    0.82% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.94%
  15. 23Falls0.90%
    0.73% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.83%
  16. 24Uterine & ovarian cancer0.87%
    0.71% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.76%
  17. 25Pancreatic cancer0.86%
    0.70% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.79%
  18. 26Oesophageal cancer0.52%
    0.42% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.50%
  19. 27Bladder cancer0.42%
    0.35% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.40%
  20. 28Stomach cancer0.38%
    0.31% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.41%
  21. 29Liver cancer0.37%
    0.30% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.32%
  22. 30Melanoma (skin cancer)0.32%
    0.26% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.28%
  23. 31Kidney cancer0.28%
    0.22% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.25%
  24. 32Other mental health conditions0.14%
    0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
  25. 33Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.12%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
  26. 34Brain cancer0.12%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
  27. 35Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.10%
    0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
  28. 36Cervical cancer0.08%
    0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
  29. 37Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.07%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  30. 38Road accidents0.05%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  31. 39Accidental poisoning & overdose0.04%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  32. 40Alcohol use disorder0.02%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
  33. 41Congenital conditions<0.01%
    <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 Samaritans on 116 123 — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like an 87-year-old woman 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: women aged 85–89 in Ireland

How long people like this live: life expectancy.

What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for an 87-year-old woman in Ireland

Based on the HSE National Screening Service and European guidelines. Your doctor may suggest more, or sooner, depending on your health. Educational, not medical advice.

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