What is the most common cause of death for women aged 45–49 in the United Kingdom?

Breast cancer: 11% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom, followed by liver disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease.

What is the chance that a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom dies in the next year?

0.17% (1 in 583). Over the next 10 years it is 2.6% (1 in 38).

How long can a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom expect to live?

On average, to about 84 — around 37 more years, based on the United Kingdom's current death rates.

Which check-ups are recommended for a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom?

Blood pressure check; Cervical screening (HPV test); Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on NHS screening programmes, the NHS Health Check and the NHS vaccination schedule.

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.

What are women aged 45–49 in the United Kingdom most likely to die from?

Name: Causes of death for women aged 45–49 in the United Kingdom
Creator: Odainn
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

For a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom, the most likely causes of death over the next 10 years are breast cancer, liver disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease — together 24% of the risk. The chance of dying in the next 12 months is 0.17% (1 in 583); over 10 years it is 2.6%.

Next 12 months

0.17%

1 in 583

Next 10 years

2.6%

1 in 38

Life expectancy

about 37 more years on average

Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

01Breast cancer11%
0.28% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.1%
02Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)7.3%
0.19% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.76%
03Heart attack & coronary heart disease6.4%
0.17% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.1%
04Lung cancer5.6%
0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
05Other cancers5.3%
0.14% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.2%
06Accidental poisoning & overdose4.5%
0.12% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.23%
07Colorectal cancer4.2%
0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
08Other digestive disease4.1%
0.11% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
09COPD & chronic lung disease3.9%
0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.7%
10Stroke3.9%
0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.4%

Show the other 37 causes44% together

11Uterine & ovarian cancer3.8%
0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
12High blood pressure & other circulatory disease3.8%
0.10% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.5%
13Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)3.5%
0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
14Other causes3.0%
0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.2%
15Suicide2.7%
0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.20%
16Heart failure & other heart disease2.3%
0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.4%
17Pneumonia & flu2.3%
0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.9%
18Pancreatic cancer2.0%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
19Leukaemia & lymphoma1.8%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
20Brain cancer1.7%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.44%
21Diabetes1.5%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
22Cervical cancer1.4%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.19%
23Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.3%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
24Other lung disease1.2%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.7%
25Mouth, throat & larynx cancer1.1%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.39%
26Liver cancer1.1%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.75%
27Congenital conditions0.99%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
28Alcohol use disorder0.93%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
29Oesophageal cancer0.92%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.69%
30COVID-190.88%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
31Melanoma (skin cancer)0.81%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.32%
32Stomach cancer0.78%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.36%
33Falls0.74%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
34Other accidents0.65%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.58%
35Kidney cancer0.59%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.44%
36Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.55%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
37Bladder cancer0.53%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.59%
38Kidney disease0.50%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.87%
39Road accidents0.29%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
40Dementia & Alzheimer's0.20%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 19%
41Drug use disorder0.15%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
42Other mental health conditions0.11%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
43Drowning0.11%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
44Homicide0.09%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
45Parkinson's disease0.05%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
46Pregnancy & childbirth<0.01%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
47Complications around birth<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 a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for the United Kingdom (2023–2024), ONS, NRS and NISRA. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

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<a href="https://odainn.com/risk/united-kingdom/women-45-49"><img src="https://odainn.com/risk/united-kingdom/women-45-49/opengraph-image" alt="What are women aged 45–49 in the United Kingdom most likely to die from?" width="600" style="max-width:100%;height:auto"></a><br><small>Source: <a href="https://odainn.com/risk/united-kingdom/women-45-49">Odainn</a>, computed from official mortality statistics</small>

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 numbers Try another age

What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom

Blood pressure check
at least every 5 years — free at the NHS Health Check (40–74) or a pharmacy
Cervical screening (HPV test)
every 5 years, ages 25–64 (HPV test)
Cholesterol & heart-risk check
every 5 years, ages 40–74 — part of the NHS Health Check
Blood sugar test (diabetes)
every 5 years, ages 40–74 — part of the NHS Health Check

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Bowel cancer in the family — earlier bowel check
often a colonoscopy every 5 years from 40 (or 10 years before your relative's age at diagnosis, if earlier) · ask your doctor
Breast or ovarian cancer in the family — risk check and genetic counselling
ask your doctor once — you may be offered earlier mammograms (often yearly from 40) or a gene test

Based on NHS screening programmes, the NHS Health Check and the NHS vaccination schedule. 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 45–49 in the United Kingdom?: Breast cancer: 11% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom, followed by liver disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease.
What is the chance that a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom dies in the next year?: 0.17% (1 in 583). Over the next 10 years it is 2.6% (1 in 38).
How long can a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom expect to live?: On average, to about 84 — around 37 more years, based on the United Kingdom's current death rates.
Which check-ups are recommended for a 47-year-old woman in the United Kingdom?: Blood pressure check; Cervical screening (HPV test); Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on NHS screening programmes, the NHS Health Check and the NHS vaccination schedule.
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 ONS, NRS and NISRA mortality statistics for the United Kingdom (2023–2024) — how we calculate. Educational, not medical advice.