What kills people in the UK at each age

The most likely cause of death over the next 10 years, by age (accidental poisoning is mostly drug overdoses):

Causes are grouped the same way for every country, so they can differ from ONS's own leading-causes list (which, for example, counts deaths of undetermined intent with suicide).

Suicide and overdoses are among the most preventable causes of death. If you or someone you love is struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123 — free and confidential, any time. Or find help at findahelpline.com.

Chance of dying in the next 12 months, at each age:

At 25 the odds are about the same. Heart disease, liver disease and overdoses explain 47% of the midlife gap over the next 10 years. For women at 45: 1.8 times.

Chance of dying from accidental poisoning (mostly drug overdoses) within 10 years, men aged 35–39 — higher only in the United States, Canada, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania:

1. United States0.74%
2. Canada0.59%
3. Estonia0.38%
4. Latvia0.36%
5. Lithuania0.34%
6. United Kingdom0.31%
7. Iceland0.29%
8. Norway0.21%
9. Finland0.17%
10. Ireland0.16%

Overdoses are preventable, and treatment works. If you or someone you love is struggling, call Samaritans on 116 123 — free and confidential, any time. Or find help at findahelpline.com.

Chance of dying of dementia within 10 years, men aged 80–84:

1. Finland18%
2. United Kingdom10%
3. Iceland9.4%
4. Netherlands9.3%
5. Canada8.8%
6. Sweden8.3%
7. Norway8.0%
8. Denmark7.7%

It is the most likely cause of death for UK women from 70 and men from 80. Part of the gap between countries is how deaths are recorded: how often doctors write dementia on the death certificate differs from country to country.

Chance of dying from COPD within 10 years, women aged 65–69 — in the UK 2.2 times the median country's:

1. Denmark1.6%
2. United Kingdom1.3%
3. Hungary1.3%
4. Norway1.3%
5. United States1.2%
6. Netherlands1.2%
7. Ireland1.1%
8. Germany1.1%

COPD is mostly caused by smoking, and it shows decades later. Stopping at any age slows it down.

Chance that a 20-year-old man lives to 70, at today's death rates (women in the UK: 87%):

1. Sweden86%
2. Norway86%
3. Italy85%
4. Ireland85%
5. Netherlands84%
6. Spain84%
7. Belgium82%
8. Denmark82%
9. Canada81%
10. United Kingdom81%
11. France80%
12. Germany79%
13. United States73%

Life expectancy at birth, men (years):

1. Switzerland82.1
2. Sweden81.5
3. Norway81.3
4. Italy81.1
5. Iceland81.0
6. Spain81.0
7. Ireland80.9
8. Cyprus80.9
9. Malta80.7
10. Luxembourg80.4
11. Netherlands80.2
12. Belgium80.1
13. France79.9
14. Canada79.7
15. Denmark79.6
16. Austria79.4
17. Portugal79.3
18. United Kingdom79.2
19. Greece79.0
20. Finland78.9
21. Slovenia78.5
22. Germany78.4
23. Czechia76.8
24. United States76.0
25. Croatia75.3
26. Slovakia74.8
27. Türkiye74.7
28. Poland74.6
29. Estonia74.2
30. Serbia73.6
31. Hungary73.3
32. Lithuania72.8
33. Romania72.5
34. Bulgaria71.9
35. Latvia70.4
36. Belarus69.2
37. Moldova67.4

The age at which heart disease, cancer, lung, brain or metabolic disease becomes the most likely cause of death — before it, it's suicide and overdoses. Men, by country:

1. Belgium48
2. Canada48
3. France46
4. Netherlands46
5. United States46
6. Sweden45
7. Norway45
8. United Kingdom42
9. Ireland41
10. Germany41
11. Denmark41
12. Spain41
13. Italy41