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Free risk check · real data

What is an 87-year-old woman in the United States 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
82%
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's19%
    15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 19%
  2. 02Heart attack & coronary heart disease11%
    8.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 11%
  3. 03Heart failure & other heart disease11%
    8.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 11%
  4. 04Stroke8.5%
    7.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 8.6%
  5. 05High blood pressure & other circulatory disease8.5%
    6.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 8.8%
  6. 06Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)6.0%
    4.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.2%
  7. 07Other causes5.0%
    4.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.1%
  8. 08COPD & chronic lung disease4.1%
    3.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.9%
Show the other 37 causes28% together
  1. 09Falls2.4%
    2.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
  2. 10Other digestive disease2.4%
    2.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.3%
  3. 11Other lung disease2.2%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.1%
  4. 12Other cancers2.1%
    1.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
  5. 13Kidney disease1.8%
    1.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  6. 14Diabetes1.8%
    1.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  7. 15Lung cancer1.7%
    1.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  8. 16Pneumonia & flu1.7%
    1.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  9. 17COVID-191.6%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  10. 18Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.5%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  11. 19Breast cancer1.4%
    1.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
  12. 20Parkinson's disease1.2%
    0.97% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  13. 21Leukaemia & lymphoma1.2%
    0.95% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  14. 22Colorectal cancer1.1%
    0.93% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  15. 23Pancreatic cancer0.78%
    0.64% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.70%
  16. 24Uterine & ovarian cancer0.57%
    0.46% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.51%
  17. 25Other accidents0.46%
    0.38% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.46%
  18. 26Bladder cancer0.32%
    0.27% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
  19. 27Liver cancer0.30%
    0.25% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.27%
  20. 28Kidney cancer0.20%
    0.17% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.19%
  21. 29Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.19%
    0.16% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.17%
  22. 30Stomach cancer0.15%
    0.12% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
  23. 31Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.14%
    0.12% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
  24. 32Brain cancer0.13%
    0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.12%
  25. 33Other mental health conditions0.12%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.12%
  26. 34Melanoma (skin cancer)0.11%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
  27. 35Road accidents0.10%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
  28. 36Oesophageal cancer0.10%
    0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
  29. 37Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.05%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  30. 38Cervical cancer0.05%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  31. 39Congenital conditions0.04%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  32. 40Suicide0.03%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  33. 41Accidental poisoning & overdose0.02%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
  34. 42Homicide0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
  35. 43Alcohol use disorder0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
  36. 44Drowning<0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
  37. 45Drug use disorder<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 or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like an 87-year-old woman in the United States, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for the United States (2023–2024), CDC. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

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

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 States

Based on USPSTF recommendations and the CDC adult immunization schedule. Your doctor may suggest more, or sooner, depending on your health. Educational, not medical advice.

Make it personal
Do you smoke?

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