Odainn
Free risk check · real data

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

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

Next 12 months
8.9%
1 in 11
Next 10 years
83%
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's27%
    22% chance over 10 years · lifetime 27%
  2. 02Heart failure & other heart disease8.6%
    7.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 8.7%
  3. 03Stroke7.2%
    6.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.2%
  4. 04Heart attack & coronary heart disease6.7%
    5.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.7%
  5. 05Pneumonia & flu6.4%
    5.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.5%
  6. 06High blood pressure & other circulatory disease4.8%
    4.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.8%
  7. 07Other digestive disease4.2%
    3.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.1%
  8. 08COPD & chronic lung disease3.8%
    3.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.7%
Show the other 36 causes32% together
  1. 09Other causes3.3%
    2.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
  2. 10Other lung disease3.2%
    2.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
  3. 11Other cancers3.1%
    2.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.0%
  4. 12Falls2.5%
    2.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
  5. 13Breast cancer1.9%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  6. 14COVID-191.9%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  7. 15Colorectal cancer1.9%
    1.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  8. 16Lung cancer1.7%
    1.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  9. 17Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.7%
    1.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  10. 18Diabetes1.6%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  11. 19Leukaemia & lymphoma1.2%
    0.97% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  12. 20Kidney disease1.1%
    0.92% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  13. 21Parkinson's disease1.0%
    0.86% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
  14. 22Pancreatic cancer0.72%
    0.60% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.69%
  15. 23Uterine & ovarian cancer0.71%
    0.59% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.68%
  16. 24Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)0.69%
    0.57% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.66%
  17. 25Other accidents0.69%
    0.57% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.69%
  18. 26Bladder cancer0.47%
    0.40% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.46%
  19. 27Oesophageal cancer0.39%
    0.33% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.38%
  20. 28Liver cancer0.39%
    0.32% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.37%
  21. 29Kidney cancer0.27%
    0.23% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.27%
  22. 30Stomach cancer0.22%
    0.18% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.21%
  23. 31Melanoma (skin cancer)0.20%
    0.17% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.19%
  24. 32Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.19%
    0.16% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.18%
  25. 33Brain cancer0.12%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
  26. 34Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.10%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
  27. 35Other mental health conditions0.08%
    0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
  28. 36Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.08%
    0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.07%
  29. 37Cervical cancer0.06%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.06%
  30. 38Road accidents0.04%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  31. 39Congenital conditions0.03%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  32. 40Suicide0.03%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  33. 41Accidental poisoning & overdose0.01%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
  34. 42Alcohol use disorder<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
  35. 43Drowning<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
  36. 44Homicide<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 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.

— send it to someone you love.

Full page with comparisons: women aged 85–89 in the United Kingdom

How long people like this live: life expectancy.

What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for an 87-year-old woman in the United Kingdom

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Based on NHS screening programmes, the NHS Health Check and the NHS vaccination schedule. 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.