Odainn
Free risk check · real data

What is a 17-year-old boy in Denmark most likely to die from?

Move the controls. The answer comes from official mortality statistics for 37 countries in Europe and North America — and it surprises almost everyone.

Country
Age
17
Sex at birth

Official mortality statistics are published by sex at birth, which is why we ask.

Next 12 months
0.02%
1 in 4,360
Next 10 years
0.29%
1 in 342
Life expectancy
80
about 63 more years on average
The surpriseAt 17, the top risk in the next 10 years isn't aging — it's suicide.
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Suicide24%
    0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
  2. 02Road accidents15%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.43%
  3. 03Accidental poisoning & overdose14%
    0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.43%
  4. 04Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)9.9%
    0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  5. 05Other cancers6.2%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.2%
  6. 06Other accidents4.0%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.66%
  7. 07Congenital conditions3.4%
    0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.12%
  8. 08Homicide3.3%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.07%
Show the other 21 causes20% together
  1. 09Other causes2.4%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  2. 10Pneumonia & flu2.2%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.3%
  3. 11Diabetes2.0%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  4. 12Drowning1.8%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.07%
  5. 13Stroke1.8%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.4%
  6. 14Leukaemia & lymphoma1.5%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.4%
  7. 15Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.1%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.9%
  8. 16Falls0.92%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  9. 17Other mental health conditions0.91%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.49%
  10. 18Colorectal cancer0.70%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.0%
  11. 19Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.70%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.16%
  12. 20High blood pressure & other circulatory disease0.57%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.4%
  13. 21Heart attack & coronary heart disease0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.4%
  14. 22Heart failure & other heart disease0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.1%
  15. 23Brain cancer0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.76%
  16. 24Melanoma (skin cancer)0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.48%
  17. 25Other lung disease0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  18. 26Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.2%
  19. 27Other digestive disease0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  20. 28Kidney disease0.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
  21. 29COVID-190.35%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%

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 17-year-old boy in Denmark, not a personal prediction. Based on official mortality data for Denmark (2023), Eurostat. Personal risk also depends on health and habits.

— send it to someone you love.

Full page with comparisons: men aged 15–19 in Denmark

How long people like this live: life expectancy.