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What are men aged 70–74 in Belgium most likely to die from?

For a 72-year-old man in Belgium, the most likely causes of death over the next 10 years are lung cancer, heart failure & other heart disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease — together 24% of the risk. The chance of dying in the next 12 months is 2.2% (1 in 44); over 10 years it is 32%.

Next 12 months
2.2%
1 in 44
Next 10 years
32%
about 3 in 10
Life expectancy
86
about 14 more years on average
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Lung cancer8.7%
    2.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  2. 02Heart failure & other heart disease7.9%
    2.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 13%
  3. 03Heart attack & coronary heart disease7.2%
    2.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.0%
  4. 04Other cancers6.0%
    1.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  5. 05COPD & chronic lung disease5.8%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.6%
  6. 06Stroke5.3%
    1.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.3%
  7. 07Dementia & Alzheimer's4.0%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.5%
  8. 08Pneumonia & flu3.7%
    1.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.8%
  9. 09Other digestive disease3.5%
    1.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.5%
  10. 10Prostate cancer3.4%
    1.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.6%
Show the other 34 causes45% together
  1. 11Other lung disease3.1%
    0.98% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.8%
  2. 12Colorectal cancer3.0%
    0.95% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
  3. 13High blood pressure & other circulatory disease3.0%
    0.95% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  4. 14Leukaemia & lymphoma2.8%
    0.88% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.2%
  5. 15Other causes2.7%
    0.86% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.8%
  6. 16Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)2.7%
    0.84% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  7. 17Pancreatic cancer2.4%
    0.76% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
  8. 18Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)2.3%
    0.71% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
  9. 19COVID-192.2%
    0.68% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  10. 20Parkinson's disease2.1%
    0.66% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  11. 21Kidney disease1.9%
    0.62% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.6%
  12. 22Liver cancer1.8%
    0.58% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
  13. 23Falls1.7%
    0.52% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.2%
  14. 24Other accidents1.5%
    0.48% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  15. 25Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)1.4%
    0.46% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.68%
  16. 26Diabetes1.4%
    0.45% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  17. 27Bladder cancer1.2%
    0.39% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  18. 28Oesophageal cancer1.2%
    0.39% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.66%
  19. 29Stomach cancer0.91%
    0.29% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.61%
  20. 30Suicide0.87%
    0.28% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.54%
  21. 31Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.81%
    0.26% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.46%
  22. 32Brain cancer0.75%
    0.24% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.35%
  23. 33Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.70%
    0.22% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.42%
  24. 34Kidney cancer0.70%
    0.22% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.53%
  25. 35Alcohol use disorder0.34%
    0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.15%
  26. 36Melanoma (skin cancer)0.32%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.28%
  27. 37Other mental health conditions0.31%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.29%
  28. 38Road accidents0.28%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.16%
  29. 39Accidental poisoning & overdose0.10%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.07%
  30. 40Congenital conditions0.06%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  31. 41Drowning0.06%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  32. 42Breast cancer0.05%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  33. 43Homicide0.02%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
  34. 44Drug 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 1813 (Zelfmoordlijn) or 0800 32 123 (Centre de Prévention du Suicide) — free and confidential, any time (or findahelpline.com).

For people like a 72-year-old man in Belgium, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Belgium (2023), Eurostat. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

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What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for a 72-year-old man in Belgium

If you smoke or used to:

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Based on the Belgian regional screening programmes, INAMI/RIZIV rules and European guidelines. Your doctor may suggest more, or sooner, depending on your health. Educational, not medical advice.

Compared with

Same age in other countries

Questions

What is the most common cause of death for men aged 70–74 in Belgium?
Lung cancer: 8.7% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for a 72-year-old man in Belgium, followed by heart failure & other heart disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease.
What is the chance that a 72-year-old man in Belgium dies in the next year?
2.2% (1 in 44). Over the next 10 years it is 32% (about 3 in 10).
How long can a 72-year-old man in Belgium expect to live?
On average, to about 86 — around 14 more years, based on Belgium's current death rates.
Which check-ups are recommended for a 72-year-old man in Belgium?
Blood pressure check; Bowel cancer screening (stool test); Flu vaccine; Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal); Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on the Belgian regional screening programmes, INAMI/RIZIV rules and European guidelines.
Can these risks be lowered?
Many of them, yes. Smoking, alcohol, activity and weight change these numbers a lot, and screening finds several cancers early. Odainn's personal numbers adjust the statistics for your own habits and rank the changes that give you the most years back. This is educational information, not medical advice.

Computed by Odainn from official Eurostat mortality statistics for Belgium (2023) — how we calculate. Educational, not medical advice.