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What are women aged 70–74 in Denmark most likely to die from?

For a 72-year-old woman in Denmark, the most likely causes of death over the next 10 years are COPD & chronic lung disease, lung cancer and dementia & Alzheimer's — together 29% of the risk. The chance of dying in the next 12 months is 1.6% (1 in 64); over 10 years it is 24%.

Next 12 months
1.6%
1 in 64
Next 10 years
24%
about 2 in 10
Life expectancy
87
about 15 more years on average
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01COPD & chronic lung disease10%
    2.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.5%
  2. 02Lung cancer9.4%
    2.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.3%
  3. 03Dementia & Alzheimer's9.1%
    2.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 15%
  4. 04Stroke5.9%
    1.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.2%
  5. 05Other cancers5.8%
    1.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.0%
  6. 06High blood pressure & other circulatory disease4.8%
    1.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.3%
  7. 07Breast cancer4.4%
    1.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.5%
  8. 08Heart failure & other heart disease4.0%
    0.97% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.6%
  9. 09Heart attack & coronary heart disease3.7%
    0.91% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  10. 10Colorectal cancer3.4%
    0.83% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
Show the other 35 causes39% together
  1. 11Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)3.4%
    0.82% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.3%
  2. 12Other digestive disease3.2%
    0.78% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
  3. 13Pancreatic cancer3.2%
    0.78% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
  4. 14Other causes2.7%
    0.66% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  5. 15Uterine & ovarian cancer2.6%
    0.63% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
  6. 16Pneumonia & flu2.5%
    0.61% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.8%
  7. 17Leukaemia & lymphoma2.4%
    0.58% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  8. 18Diabetes2.0%
    0.50% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.3%
  9. 19Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)1.8%
    0.44% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.0%
  10. 20Other lung disease1.5%
    0.37% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  11. 21Parkinson's disease1.5%
    0.37% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  12. 22Kidney disease1.2%
    0.30% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  13. 23COVID-191.2%
    0.29% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  14. 24Falls1.1%
    0.28% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.1%
  15. 25Liver cancer1.0%
    0.25% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.52%
  16. 26Brain cancer0.83%
    0.20% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.39%
  17. 27Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.81%
    0.20% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.31%
  18. 28Bladder cancer0.75%
    0.18% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.52%
  19. 29Oesophageal cancer0.67%
    0.16% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.32%
  20. 30Melanoma (skin cancer)0.66%
    0.16% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.39%
  21. 31Alcohol use disorder0.61%
    0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.23%
  22. 32Stomach cancer0.56%
    0.14% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.38%
  23. 33Other mental health conditions0.56%
    0.14% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.61%
  24. 34Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.46%
    0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.24%
  25. 35Kidney cancer0.36%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.26%
  26. 36Suicide0.29%
    0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
  27. 37Other accidents0.29%
    0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.58%
  28. 38Cervical cancer0.24%
    0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.16%
  29. 39Road accidents0.17%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
  30. 40Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.15%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
  31. 41Congenital conditions0.12%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
  32. 42Accidental poisoning & overdose0.09%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  33. 43Drowning0.03%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.01%
  34. 44Homicide0.03%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
  35. 45Pregnancy & childbirth0.01%
    <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 Livslinien on 70 201 201 (09:00–05:00, normal call rate) — confidential; at other times, call 112 (or findahelpline.com).

For people like a 72-year-old woman in Denmark, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Denmark (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 woman in Denmark

If you smoke or used to:

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Based on Danish national screening programmes 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 women aged 70–74 in Denmark?
COPD & chronic lung disease: 10% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for a 72-year-old woman in Denmark, followed by lung cancer and dementia & Alzheimer's.
What is the chance that a 72-year-old woman in Denmark dies in the next year?
1.6% (1 in 64). Over the next 10 years it is 24% (about 2 in 10).
How long can a 72-year-old woman in Denmark expect to live?
On average, to about 87 — around 15 more years, based on Denmark's current death rates.
Which check-ups are recommended for a 72-year-old woman in Denmark?
Blood pressure check; Bowel cancer screening (stool test); Flu vaccine; Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal); Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on Danish national screening programmes 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 Denmark (2023) — how we calculate. Educational, not medical advice.