Insights · real data

What kills Europeans at each age

Eight facts computed from official death and population statistics for 34 countries. Every number links to the page it comes from. Free to cite with a link. Facts for each country are below.

Fact 1

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 30–34 in 22 of 34 countries

Not heart disease, not cancer. Countries where it ranks first: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

It is also among the most preventable causes. If you or someone you love is struggling, free and confidential help is available: findahelpline.com — or call 112 in an emergency.

Fact 2

For men in their early 30s, most of the risk isn't disease at all

Share of a 32-year-old man's 10-year risk that comes from injuries, suicide and substance use:

Fact 3

Road crashes are the top killer of men aged 20–24 in 11 countries

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia. Mostly the south and east of Europe; in the north, suicide leads at this age.

Fact 4

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women aged 45–49 in 28 of 34 countries

The age when most screening programmes begin. See Germany, France or Poland.

Fact 5

Your odds of dying in the next year roughly double every decade

Poland, chance of dying within 12 months:

Age	Men	Women
20	1 in 1,225 (0.08%)	1 in 3,726 (0.03%)
30	1 in 670 (0.15%)	1 in 2,192 (0.05%)
40	1 in 332 (0.30%)	1 in 971 (0.10%)
50	1 in 143 (0.70%)	1 in 381 (0.26%)
60	1 in 58 (1.7%)	1 in 134 (0.74%)
70	1 in 27 (3.7%)	1 in 53 (1.9%)
80	1 in 12 (8.1%)	1 in 19 (5.4%)

Fact 6

How much longer women live than men, by country

Difference in life expectancy at birth (years):

Fact 7

Men in their late 40s face up to 2.8 times women's risk

10-year risk of dying for men aged 45–49, as a multiple of women's:

Fact 8

The age at which diseases of aging become men's top threat

Before this age, the most likely cause of death is an accident, suicide, alcohol or another cause that has little to do with getting old (heart disease, cancer, lung, brain and metabolic disease count as aging here):

What about you — and the people you love?

See what's most likely to kill someone of your age, sex and country, in seconds. Free.

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Computed by Odainn from official mortality statistics — Eurostat; ONS, NRS and NISRA for the UK (latest available years, mostly 2023–2024) — how we calculate. Population statistics, not predictions for any individual. Educational, not medical advice.