Odainn

What are women aged 85–89 in Ireland most likely to die from?

For an 87-year-old woman in Ireland, the most likely causes of death over the next 10 years are dementia & Alzheimer's, heart failure & other heart disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease — together 40% of the risk. The chance of dying in the next 12 months is 9.2% (1 in 11); over 10 years it is 81%.

Next 12 months
9.2%
1 in 11
Next 10 years
81%
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's16%
    13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 16%
  2. 02Heart failure & other heart disease12%
    9.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 13%
  3. 03Heart attack & coronary heart disease12%
    9.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 12%
  4. 04Stroke6.6%
    5.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.5%
  5. 05High blood pressure & other circulatory disease6.4%
    5.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.8%
  6. 06COPD & chronic lung disease4.9%
    4.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.7%
  7. 07Other causes4.9%
    4.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  8. 08Pneumonia & flu4.6%
    3.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.0%
  9. 09Other lung disease4.0%
    3.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.9%
  10. 10Other digestive disease3.6%
    2.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.3%
Show the other 31 causes25% together
  1. 11Other cancers2.7%
    2.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.6%
  2. 12COVID-192.2%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.3%
  3. 13Diabetes2.1%
    1.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
  4. 14Colorectal cancer2.0%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  5. 15Breast cancer1.9%
    1.6% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  6. 16Lung cancer1.6%
    1.3% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
  7. 17Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.3%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  8. 18Parkinson's disease1.2%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  9. 19Kidney disease1.2%
    0.99% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  10. 20Leukaemia & lymphoma1.2%
    0.98% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  11. 21Other accidents1.1%
    0.91% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  12. 22Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)1.0%
    0.82% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.94%
  13. 23Falls0.90%
    0.73% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.83%
  14. 24Uterine & ovarian cancer0.87%
    0.71% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.76%
  15. 25Pancreatic cancer0.86%
    0.70% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.79%
  16. 26Oesophageal cancer0.52%
    0.42% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.50%
  17. 27Bladder cancer0.42%
    0.35% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.40%
  18. 28Stomach cancer0.38%
    0.31% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.41%
  19. 29Liver cancer0.37%
    0.30% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.32%
  20. 30Melanoma (skin cancer)0.32%
    0.26% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.28%
  21. 31Kidney cancer0.28%
    0.22% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.25%
  22. 32Other mental health conditions0.14%
    0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
  23. 33Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.12%
    0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.11%
  24. 34Brain cancer0.12%
    0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
  25. 35Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.10%
    0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
  26. 36Cervical cancer0.08%
    0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
  27. 37Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.07%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.05%
  28. 38Road accidents0.05%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  29. 39Accidental poisoning & overdose0.04%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  30. 40Alcohol use disorder0.02%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
  31. 41Congenital conditions<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 Ireland, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Ireland (2023), Eurostat. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

— send it to someone you love.
Embed this on your site

Free to use with the link back. The image updates when the data does.

These are averages. You aren't average.

Smoking, exercise, weight, alcohol and diet change these numbers. Get your personal numbers and the changes that give you the most years back — free.

Get your numbersTry another age
What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for an 87-year-old woman in Ireland

Based on the HSE National Screening Service 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 85–89 in Ireland?
Dementia & Alzheimer's: 16% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for an 87-year-old woman in Ireland, followed by heart failure & other heart disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease.
What is the chance that an 87-year-old woman in Ireland dies in the next year?
9.2% (1 in 11). Over the next 10 years it is 81% (about 8 in 10).
How long can an 87-year-old woman in Ireland expect to live?
On average, to about 93 — around 6 more years, based on Ireland's current death rates.
Which check-ups are recommended for an 87-year-old woman in Ireland?
Blood pressure check; Flu vaccine; Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal); Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on the HSE National Screening Service 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 Ireland (2023) — how we calculate. Educational, not medical advice.