Free risk check · real data

What is a 42-year-old woman in the United Kingdom 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

Sex at birth

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

Next 12 months

0.11%

1 in 876

Next 10 years

1.7%

1 in 58

Life expectancy

about 42 more years on average

Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

01Breast cancer11%
0.19% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.1%
02Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)8.6%
0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.81%
03Accidental poisoning & overdose7.3%
0.13% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.29%
04Heart attack & coronary heart disease5.3%
0.09% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.1%
05Other cancers4.8%
0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.2%
06Colorectal cancer4.5%
0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
07Suicide3.9%
0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.23%
08Other digestive disease3.9%
0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%

Show the other 39 causes51% together

09High blood pressure & other circulatory disease3.8%
0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.5%
10Lung cancer3.8%
0.07% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
11Stroke3.7%
0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.4%
12Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)3.4%
0.06% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
13Other causes3.1%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.2%
14Uterine & ovarian cancer3.0%
0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
15COPD & chronic lung disease2.6%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.6%
16Heart failure & other heart disease2.3%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.4%
17Pneumonia & flu2.2%
0.04% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.8%
18Cervical cancer1.8%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.20%
19Leukaemia & lymphoma1.7%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
20Brain cancer1.7%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.45%
21Diabetes1.5%
0.03% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.5%
22Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)1.5%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.6%
23Pancreatic cancer1.4%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.4%
24Alcohol use disorder1.1%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.10%
25Other lung disease1.1%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.7%
26Liver cancer1.0%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.75%
27Congenital conditions0.93%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.14%
28Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.88%
0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.13%
29Mouth, throat & larynx cancer0.87%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.40%
30Stomach cancer0.86%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.37%
31Melanoma (skin cancer)0.84%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.32%
32Other accidents0.82%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.58%
33COVID-190.72%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
34Falls0.72%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.0%
35Oesophageal cancer0.69%
0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.69%
36Kidney disease0.47%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.87%
37Bladder cancer0.46%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.59%
38Kidney cancer0.45%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.44%
39Road accidents0.39%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.08%
40Drug use disorder0.28%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
41Other mental health conditions0.18%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.09%
42Homicide0.12%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
43Drowning0.11%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
44Pregnancy & childbirth0.07%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime <0.01%
45Dementia & Alzheimer's0.06%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 19%
46Parkinson's disease0.02%
<0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.1%
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 42-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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Full page with comparisons: women aged 40–44 in the United Kingdom

How long people like this live: life expectancy.

What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for a 42-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.

Make it personal

Do you smoke?

We never store your answer with anything that identifies you — it stays on this device until you create an account, then carries over. Educational, not medical advice.