Odainn

What are men aged 70–74 in Denmark most likely to die from?

For a 72-year-old man in Denmark, the most likely causes of death over the next 10 years are lung cancer, COPD & chronic lung disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease — together 21% of the risk. The chance of dying in the next 12 months is 2.5% (1 in 40); over 10 years it is 34%.

Next 12 months
2.5%
1 in 40
Next 10 years
34%
about 3 in 10
Life expectancy
85
about 13 more years on average
Most likely causes

Share of all deaths in the next 10 years.

  1. 01Lung cancer7.3%
    2.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.7%
  2. 02COPD & chronic lung disease7.2%
    2.5% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.7%
  3. 03Heart attack & coronary heart disease7.0%
    2.4% chance over 10 years · lifetime 7.3%
  4. 04Prostate cancer5.9%
    2.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.0%
  5. 05Dementia & Alzheimer's5.8%
    2.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 9.1%
  6. 06Stroke5.6%
    1.9% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.8%
  7. 07Heart failure & other heart disease5.3%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 6.5%
  8. 08High blood pressure & other circulatory disease5.1%
    1.8% chance over 10 years · lifetime 5.7%
  9. 09Other cancers4.9%
    1.7% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.1%
  10. 10Colorectal cancer3.4%
    1.2% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.8%
Show the other 33 causes42% together
  1. 11Infections (e.g. sepsis, hepatitis, HIV)3.2%
    1.1% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.4%
  2. 12Pneumonia & flu3.0%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 4.9%
  3. 13Leukaemia & lymphoma3.0%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.5%
  4. 14Other digestive disease2.9%
    1.0% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.7%
  5. 15Diabetes2.9%
    0.99% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.9%
  6. 16Pancreatic cancer2.8%
    0.96% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  7. 17Parkinson's disease2.6%
    0.90% chance over 10 years · lifetime 2.1%
  8. 18Other causes2.2%
    0.77% chance over 10 years · lifetime 3.1%
  9. 19Other lung disease2.0%
    0.69% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  10. 20Bladder cancer1.5%
    0.53% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.3%
  11. 21Other neurological disease (e.g. epilepsy)1.4%
    0.49% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.85%
  12. 22COVID-191.4%
    0.48% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.9%
  13. 23Oesophageal cancer1.4%
    0.47% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.81%
  14. 24Liver cancer1.3%
    0.46% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.83%
  15. 25Mouth, throat & larynx cancer1.3%
    0.44% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.68%
  16. 26Kidney disease1.2%
    0.43% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.8%
  17. 27Stomach cancer1.2%
    0.41% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.70%
  18. 28Falls1.1%
    0.38% chance over 10 years · lifetime 1.7%
  19. 29Liver disease (incl. alcohol-related)0.99%
    0.34% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.45%
  20. 30Alcohol use disorder0.94%
    0.32% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.44%
  21. 31Kidney cancer0.70%
    0.24% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.54%
  22. 32Brain cancer0.68%
    0.24% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.40%
  23. 33Melanoma (skin cancer)0.65%
    0.23% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.44%
  24. 34Suicide0.61%
    0.21% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.42%
  25. 35Other mental health conditions0.44%
    0.15% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.45%
  26. 36Other accidents0.40%
    0.14% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.59%
  27. 37Road accidents0.24%
    0.08% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.21%
  28. 38Other injuries (incl. undetermined intent)0.14%
    0.05% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.12%
  29. 39Accidental poisoning & overdose0.06%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  30. 40Congenital conditions0.05%
    0.02% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.03%
  31. 41Drowning0.02%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%
  32. 42Breast cancer0.02%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.04%
  33. 43Homicide0.01%
    <0.01% chance over 10 years · lifetime 0.02%

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

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What to do about it

Check-ups recommended for a 72-year-old man in Denmark

If you smoke or used to:

If a parent, brother, sister or child had:

Based on Danish national screening programmes 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 men aged 70–74 in Denmark?
Lung cancer: 7.3% of the risk of dying over the next 10 years for a 72-year-old man in Denmark, followed by COPD & chronic lung disease and heart attack & coronary heart disease.
What is the chance that a 72-year-old man in Denmark dies in the next year?
2.5% (1 in 40). Over the next 10 years it is 34% (about 3 in 10).
How long can a 72-year-old man in Denmark expect to live?
On average, to about 85 — around 13 more years, based on Denmark's current death rates.
Which check-ups are recommended for a 72-year-old man in Denmark?
Blood pressure check; Bowel cancer screening (stool test); Flu vaccine; Cholesterol & heart-risk check; Pneumonia vaccine (pneumococcal); Blood sugar test (diabetes). Based on Danish national screening programmes 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 Denmark (2023) — how we calculate. Educational, not medical advice.