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We’re all going to die someday. It’s a fact of life that, unfortunately, we have no control of. Out of the over 100 billion people who have ever lived, approximately zero have managed to escape this fate.
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Odds of dying for men and women
The actuarial tables below are based on the most recent mortality rates for 2014 — directly from the Social Security Administration. They do not consider personal health or lifestyle information, which can dramatically alter a person’s life expectancy.
Life expectancy rates are merely calculations based on averages of mortality among specific population, gender and age groups. They do not predict the specific life expectancy of any one person — including you. If you’re concerned about your overall health and risks, talk to your doctor or health professional.
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As you’d expect, the odds of dying increase as we age. For men, five-year odds stay in the single digits until their mid-50s, when longevity percentages begin to decrease more dramatically. At 70 years old, the majority of men are expected to live another 10 years, and another quarter are expected to live to see 90.
| Age | Within 1 year | Within 5 years | Within 10 years | Within 20 years | Within 30 years | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years old | 0.63% | 0.74% | 0.80% | 1.20% | 2.48% | |
| 1 years old | 0.04% | 0.12% | 0.18% | 0.67% | 2.01% | |
| 2 years old | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.15% | 0.75% | 2.12% | |
| 3 years old | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.14% | 0.84% | 2.25% | |
| 4 years old | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.14% | 0.95% | 2.38% | |
| 5 years old | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.15% | 1.06% | 2.53% | |
| 6 years old | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.17% | 1.18% | 2.68% | |
| 7 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.21% | 1.30% | 2.84% | |
| 8 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.26% | 1.43% | 3.01% | |
| 9 years old | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.32% | 1.56% | 3.18% | |
| 10 years old | 0.01% | 0.08% | 0.40% | 1.69% | 3.37% | |
| 11 years old | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.49% | 1.83% | 3.56% | |
| 12 years old | 0.01% | 0.15% | 0.59% | 1.97% | 3.77% | |
| 13 years old | 0.02% | 0.20% | 0.71% | 2.11% | 3.99% | |
| 14 years old | 0.03% | 0.26% | 0.82% | 2.25% | 4.22% | |
| 15 years old | 0.04% | 0.31% | 0.92% | 2.38% | 4.47% | |
| 16 years old | 0.05% | 0.38% | 1.01% | 2.51% | 4.72% | |
| 17 years old | 0.06% | 0.44% | 1.10% | 2.64% | 5.00% | |
| 18 years old | 0.07% | 0.50% | 1.17% | 2.76% | 5.30% | |
| 19 years old | 0.09% | 0.56% | 1.24% | 2.87% | 5.62% | |
| 20 years old | 0.10% | 0.61% | 1.30% | 2.98% | 5.96% | |
| 21 years old | 0.12% | 0.64% | 1.35% | 3.09% | 6.33% | |
| 22 years old | 0.13% | 0.66% | 1.38% | 3.20% | 6.74% | |
| 23 years old | 0.13% | 0.67% | 1.42% | 3.31% | 7.18% | |
| 24 years old | 0.13% | 0.68% | 1.45% | 3.43% | 7.67% | |
| 25 years old | 0.13% | 0.70% | 1.48% | 3.58% | 8.21% | More info |
| 26 years old | 0.14% | 0.71% | 1.51% | 3.75% | 8.80% | |
| 27 years old | 0.14% | 0.73% | 1.55% | 3.95% | 9.45% | |
| 28 years old | 0.14% | 0.75% | 1.60% | 4.17% | 10.16% | |
| 29 years old | 0.15% | 0.77% | 1.65% | 4.43% | 10.92% | |
| 30 years old | 0.15% | 0.79% | 1.71% | 4.72% | 11.73% | |
| 31 years old | 0.15% | 0.81% | 1.77% | 5.06% | 12.60% | |
| 32 years old | 0.16% | 0.83% | 1.84% | 5.43% | 13.53% | |
| 33 years old | 0.16% | 0.86% | 1.92% | 5.85% | 14.53% | |
| 34 years old | 0.17% | 0.89% | 2.02% | 6.32% | 15.58% | |
| 35 years old | 0.17% | 0.93% | 2.13% | 6.83% | 16.69% | |
| 36 years old | 0.18% | 0.97% | 2.27% | 7.40% | 17.87% | |
| 37 years old | 0.19% | 1.01% | 2.43% | 8.02% | 19.12% | |
| 38 years old | 0.19% | 1.07% | 2.61% | 8.70% | 20.46% | |
| 39 years old | 0.20% | 1.14% | 2.83% | 9.42% | 21.88% | |
| 40 years old | 0.21% | 1.22% | 3.07% | 10.20% | 23.40% | |
| 41 years old | 0.23% | 1.32% | 3.35% | 11.03% | 25.03% | |
| 42 years old | 0.24% | 1.43% | 3.66% | 11.92% | 26.78% | |
| 43 years old | 0.26% | 1.56% | 4.01% | 12.86% | 28.65% | |
| 44 years old | 0.28% | 1.71% | 4.39% | 13.84% | 30.64% | |
| 45 years old | 0.31% | 1.88% | 4.80% | 14.88% | 32.74% | More info |
| 46 years old | 0.34% | 2.06% | 5.25% | 15.96% | 34.98% | |
| 47 years old | 0.37% | 2.26% | 5.73% | 17.11% | 37.36% | |
| 48 years old | 0.41% | 2.49% | 6.25% | 18.32% | 39.88% | |
| 49 years old | 0.45% | 2.72% | 6.79% | 19.61% | 42.55% | |
| 50 years old | 0.50% | 2.98% | 7.35% | 20.97% | 45.35% | |
| 51 years old | 0.55% | 3.26% | 7.95% | 22.43% | 48.30% | |
| 52 years old | 0.60% | 3.55% | 8.57% | 24.00% | 51.40% | |
| 53 years old | 0.66% | 3.86% | 9.22% | 25.67% | 54.63% | |
| 54 years old | 0.72% | 4.18% | 9.89% | 27.45% | 57.98% | |
| 55 years old | 0.78% | 4.51% | 10.59% | 29.35% | 61.43% | |
| 56 years old | 0.85% | 4.85% | 11.31% | 31.38% | 64.94% | |
| 57 years old | 0.92% | 5.20% | 12.07% | 33.55% | 68.49% | |
| 58 years old | 0.99% | 5.58% | 12.88% | 35.88% | 72.04% | |
| 59 years old | 1.06% | 5.96% | 13.75% | 38.36% | 75.55% | |
| 60 years old | 1.14% | 6.37% | 14.70% | 41.01% | 78.97% | |
| 61 years old | 1.22% | 6.79% | 15.74% | 43.84% | 82.22% | |
| 62 years old | 1.31% | 7.24% | 16.88% | 46.85% | 85.27% | |
| 63 years old | 1.39% | 7.73% | 18.12% | 50.03% | 88.06% | |
| 64 years old | 1.48% | 8.28% | 19.49% | 53.37% | 90.55% | |
| 65 years old | 1.58% | 8.90% | 20.98% | 56.86% | 92.71% | |
| 66 years old | 1.70% | 9.60% | 22.62% | 60.47% | 94.52% | |
| 67 years old | 1.83% | 10.39% | 24.43% | 64.17% | 95.99% | |
| 68 years old | 1.98% | 11.26% | 26.40% | 67.91% | 97.13% | |
| 69 years old | 2.14% | 12.22% | 28.53% | 71.65% | 98.00% | |
| 70 years old | 2.34% | 13.27% | 30.85% | 75.34% | 98.64% | |
| 71 years old | 2.55% | 14.41% | 33.35% | 78.90% | 99.09% | |
| 72 years old | 2.79% | 15.67% | 36.05% | 82.28% | 99.41% | |
| 73 years old | 3.04% | 17.06% | 38.96% | 85.42% | 99.63% | |
| 74 years old | 3.31% | 18.59% | 42.08% | 88.26% | 99.77% | |
| 75 years old | 3.63% | 20.27% | 45.40% | 90.77% | 99.86% | |
| 76 years old | 3.99% | 22.13% | 48.91% | 92.92% | 99.92% | |
| 77 years old | 4.39% | 24.17% | 52.58% | 94.69% | 99.96% | |
| 78 years old | 4.83% | 26.41% | 56.40% | 96.11% | 99.98% | |
| 79 years old | 5.31% | 28.86% | 60.34% | 97.20% | 99.99% | |
| 80 years old | 5.87% | 31.52% | 64.34% | 98.03% | 99.99% | |
| 81 years old | 6.51% | 34.39% | 68.35% | 98.64% | 100.00% | |
| 82 years old | 7.21% | 37.47% | 72.29% | 99.08% | 100.00% | |
| 83 years old | 7.99% | 40.75% | 76.11% | 99.39% | 100.00% | |
| 84 years old | 8.85% | 44.24% | 79.73% | 99.60% | 100.00% | |
| 85 years old | 9.81% | 47.92% | 83.09% | 99.75% | 100.00% | |
| 86 years old | 10.89% | 51.76% | 86.13% | 99.85% | 100.00% | |
| 87 years old | 12.09% | 55.69% | 88.80% | 99.91% | 100.00% | |
| 88 years old | 13.41% | 59.67% | 91.07% | 99.95% | 100.00% | |
| 89 years old | 14.87% | 63.64% | 92.95% | 99.97% | 100.00% | |
| 90 years old | 16.45% | 67.54% | 94.47% | 99.98% | 100.00% | |
| 91 years old | 18.16% | 71.26% | 95.69% | 99.99% | 100.00% | |
| 92 years old | 19.99% | 74.72% | 96.67% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 93 years old | 21.93% | 77.85% | 97.44% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 94 years old | 23.99% | 80.61% | 98.04% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 95 years old | 26.03% | 82.97% | 98.52% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 96 years old | 28.01% | 85.01% | 98.89% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 97 years old | 29.90% | 86.81% | 99.18% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 98 years old | 31.66% | 88.42% | 99.40% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 99 years old | 33.24% | 89.91% | 99.58% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 100 years old | 34.90% | 91.29% | 99.71% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 101 years old | 36.65% | 92.58% | 99.81% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 102 years old | 38.48% | 93.77% | 99.88% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 103 years old | 40.40% | 94.85% | 99.93% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 104 years old | 42.42% | 95.81% | 99.96% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 105 years old | 44.55% | 96.66% | 99.98% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 106 years old | 46.77% | 97.40% | 99.99% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 107 years old | 49.11% | 98.03% | 99.99% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 108 years old | 51.57% | 98.56% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 109 years old | 54.15% | 98.98% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 110 years old | 56.85% | 99.31% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 111 years old | 59.70% | 99.56% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 112 years old | 62.68% | 99.74% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 113 years old | 65.81% | 99.86% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 114 years old | 69.10% | 99.94% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 115 years old | 72.56% | 99.98% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 116 years old | 76.19% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 117 years old | 80.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 118 years old | 84.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 119 years old | 88.20% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Source: Death probability taken from the 2014 SSA Period Life Table.
Interestingly, women are generally expected to live longer lives than similarly aged men as they grow older. Even among grade-school ages, you’ll see a gap between men and women.
Women in their 40s can expect to comfortably reach 80, with many also expected to live until their centennial year. Even at 70, more than 60% of women are projected to live long enough to blow out 90 candles.
| Age | Within 1 year | Within 5 years | Within 10 years | Within 20 years | Within 30 years | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years old | 0.53% | 0.62% | 0.67% | 0.85% | 1.36% | |
| 1 years old | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.14% | 0.36% | 0.90% | |
| 2 years old | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.12% | 0.37% | 0.93% | |
| 3 years old | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.11% | 0.39% | 0.99% | |
| 4 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.10% | 0.42% | 1.05% | |
| 5 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.10% | 0.46% | 1.12% | |
| 6 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.50% | 1.20% | |
| 7 years old | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.13% | 0.54% | 1.29% | |
| 8 years old | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.14% | 0.59% | 1.39% | |
| 9 years old | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.16% | 0.64% | 1.50% | |
| 10 years old | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.19% | 0.70% | 1.61% | |
| 11 years old | 0.01% | 0.07% | 0.22% | 0.76% | 1.73% | |
| 12 years old | 0.01% | 0.08% | 0.25% | 0.82% | 1.87% | |
| 13 years old | 0.01% | 0.10% | 0.28% | 0.88% | 2.01% | |
| 14 years old | 0.02% | 0.12% | 0.32% | 0.95% | 2.16% | |
| 15 years old | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.35% | 1.02% | 2.33% | |
| 16 years old | 0.02% | 0.15% | 0.39% | 1.09% | 2.51% | |
| 17 years old | 0.03% | 0.17% | 0.42% | 1.17% | 2.70% | |
| 18 years old | 0.03% | 0.19% | 0.45% | 1.25% | 2.91% | |
| 19 years old | 0.03% | 0.20% | 0.48% | 1.33% | 3.13% | |
| 20 years old | 0.04% | 0.22% | 0.51% | 1.42% | 3.38% | |
| 21 years old | 0.04% | 0.23% | 0.54% | 1.52% | 3.65% | |
| 22 years old | 0.04% | 0.25% | 0.57% | 1.62% | 3.95% | |
| 23 years old | 0.05% | 0.26% | 0.60% | 1.73% | 4.27% | |
| 24 years old | 0.05% | 0.28% | 0.63% | 1.85% | 4.62% | |
| 25 years old | 0.05% | 0.29% | 0.67% | 1.98% | 5.00% | More info |
| 26 years old | 0.06% | 0.31% | 0.71% | 2.13% | 5.40% | |
| 27 years old | 0.06% | 0.32% | 0.76% | 2.29% | 5.83% | |
| 28 years old | 0.06% | 0.34% | 0.80% | 2.47% | 6.30% | |
| 29 years old | 0.06% | 0.36% | 0.86% | 2.67% | 6.80% | |
| 30 years old | 0.07% | 0.38% | 0.92% | 2.89% | 7.32% | |
| 31 years old | 0.07% | 0.41% | 0.98% | 3.13% | 7.88% | |
| 32 years old | 0.08% | 0.44% | 1.06% | 3.40% | 8.47% | |
| 33 years old | 0.08% | 0.47% | 1.14% | 3.69% | 9.11% | |
| 34 years old | 0.09% | 0.50% | 1.23% | 4.01% | 9.80% | |
| 35 years old | 0.09% | 0.54% | 1.32% | 4.35% | 10.54% | |
| 36 years old | 0.10% | 0.58% | 1.43% | 4.72% | 11.33% | |
| 37 years old | 0.11% | 0.62% | 1.55% | 5.12% | 12.20% | |
| 38 years old | 0.12% | 0.67% | 1.68% | 5.54% | 13.13% | |
| 39 years old | 0.12% | 0.73% | 1.82% | 5.99% | 14.15% | |
| 40 years old | 0.13% | 0.79% | 1.99% | 6.46% | 15.26% | |
| 41 years old | 0.14% | 0.85% | 2.17% | 6.96% | 16.47% | |
| 42 years old | 0.16% | 0.93% | 2.37% | 7.50% | 17.80% | |
| 43 years old | 0.17% | 1.01% | 2.59% | 8.07% | 19.24% | |
| 44 years old | 0.18% | 1.11% | 2.82% | 8.68% | 20.79% | |
| 45 years old | 0.20% | 1.21% | 3.07% | 9.34% | 22.47% | More info |
| 46 years old | 0.22% | 1.33% | 3.34% | 10.05% | 24.27% | |
| 47 years old | 0.24% | 1.45% | 3.63% | 10.82% | 26.24% | |
| 48 years old | 0.26% | 1.59% | 3.93% | 11.65% | 28.36% | |
| 49 years old | 0.29% | 1.74% | 4.24% | 12.56% | 30.66% | |
| 50 years old | 0.32% | 1.89% | 4.57% | 13.55% | 33.13% | |
| 51 years old | 0.35% | 2.04% | 4.90% | 14.62% | 35.80% | |
| 52 years old | 0.38% | 2.21% | 5.25% | 15.80% | 38.68% | |
| 53 years old | 0.41% | 2.38% | 5.63% | 17.09% | 41.76% | |
| 54 years old | 0.44% | 2.55% | 6.03% | 18.49% | 45.01% | |
| 55 years old | 0.48% | 2.73% | 6.46% | 20.01% | 48.43% | |
| 56 years old | 0.52% | 2.92% | 6.94% | 21.66% | 52.01% | |
| 57 years old | 0.55% | 3.12% | 7.46% | 23.46% | 55.74% | |
| 58 years old | 0.59% | 3.33% | 8.04% | 25.43% | 59.59% | |
| 59 years old | 0.63% | 3.57% | 8.69% | 27.58% | 63.55% | |
| 60 years old | 0.67% | 3.84% | 9.41% | 29.93% | 67.57% | |
| 61 years old | 0.72% | 4.14% | 10.22% | 32.49% | 71.58% | |
| 62 years old | 0.77% | 4.48% | 11.14% | 35.28% | 75.51% | |
| 63 years old | 0.83% | 4.87% | 12.15% | 38.28% | 79.28% | |
| 64 years old | 0.90% | 5.31% | 13.26% | 41.48% | 82.82% | |
| 65 years old | 0.98% | 5.80% | 14.48% | 44.87% | 86.07% | |
| 66 years old | 1.07% | 6.35% | 15.82% | 48.43% | 88.95% | |
| 67 years old | 1.18% | 6.96% | 17.29% | 52.17% | 91.43% | |
| 68 years old | 1.29% | 7.65% | 18.91% | 56.06% | 93.51% | |
| 69 years old | 1.41% | 8.40% | 20.69% | 60.08% | 95.19% | |
| 70 years old | 1.56% | 9.22% | 22.65% | 64.20% | 96.51% | |
| 71 years old | 1.73% | 10.11% | 24.80% | 68.34% | 97.52% | |
| 72 years old | 1.90% | 11.10% | 27.17% | 72.44% | 98.28% | |
| 73 years old | 2.09% | 12.19% | 29.75% | 76.41% | 98.84% | |
| 74 years old | 2.29% | 13.42% | 32.53% | 80.19% | 99.24% | |
| 75 years old | 2.53% | 14.80% | 35.53% | 83.71% | 99.52% | |
| 76 years old | 2.80% | 16.34% | 38.74% | 86.87% | 99.71% | |
| 77 years old | 3.11% | 18.08% | 42.17% | 89.64% | 99.83% | |
| 78 years old | 3.46% | 19.99% | 45.81% | 91.99% | 99.90% | |
| 79 years old | 3.85% | 22.08% | 49.67% | 93.93% | 99.95% | |
| 80 years old | 4.30% | 24.34% | 53.71% | 95.48% | 99.97% | |
| 81 years old | 4.82% | 26.78% | 57.90% | 96.70% | 99.99% | |
| 82 years old | 5.38% | 29.41% | 62.15% | 97.64% | 99.99% | |
| 83 years old | 5.98% | 32.27% | 66.43% | 98.35% | 100.00% | |
| 84 years old | 6.64% | 35.41% | 70.64% | 98.88% | 100.00% | |
| 85 years old | 7.38% | 38.83% | 74.72% | 99.26% | 100.00% | |
| 86 years old | 8.24% | 42.50% | 78.57% | 99.52% | 100.00% | |
| 87 years old | 9.22% | 46.39% | 82.09% | 99.70% | 100.00% | |
| 88 years old | 10.33% | 50.43% | 85.22% | 99.82% | 100.00% | |
| 89 years old | 11.57% | 54.55% | 87.94% | 99.90% | 100.00% | |
| 90 years old | 12.95% | 58.68% | 90.24% | 99.94% | 100.00% | |
| 91 years old | 14.44% | 62.73% | 92.17% | 99.97% | 100.00% | |
| 92 years old | 16.06% | 66.59% | 93.77% | 99.98% | 100.00% | |
| 93 years old | 17.79% | 70.19% | 95.09% | 99.99% | 100.00% | |
| 94 years old | 19.62% | 73.47% | 96.18% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 95 years old | 21.47% | 76.38% | 97.05% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 96 years old | 23.31% | 78.99% | 97.76% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 97 years old | 25.11% | 81.36% | 98.33% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 98 years old | 26.83% | 83.54% | 98.78% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 99 years old | 28.44% | 85.58% | 99.13% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 100 years old | 30.15% | 87.52% | 99.41% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 101 years old | 31.96% | 89.34% | 99.61% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 102 years old | 33.87% | 91.04% | 99.75% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 103 years old | 35.91% | 92.59% | 99.85% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 104 years old | 38.06% | 93.99% | 99.92% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 105 years old | 40.34% | 95.24% | 99.96% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 106 years old | 42.76% | 96.33% | 99.98% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 107 years old | 45.33% | 97.26% | 99.99% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 108 years old | 48.05% | 98.03% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 109 years old | 50.93% | 98.64% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 110 years old | 53.99% | 99.12% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 111 years old | 57.23% | 99.47% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 112 years old | 60.66% | 99.70% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 113 years old | 64.30% | 99.85% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 114 years old | 68.16% | 99.93% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 115 years old | 72.25% | 99.98% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 116 years old | 76.19% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 117 years old | 80.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 118 years old | 84.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | |
| 119 years old | 88.20% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Source: Death probability taken from the 2014 SSA Period Life Table.
Methodology
We based our data on 2014 actuarial life tables from the Social Security Administration. Using compound probability, we used this data to calculate the odds of dying within increments of 5, 10, 20 and 30 years for men and women in the US. Your actual probability could be higher or lower depending on a range of health and lifestyle factors.
Actuarial tables are about as close as we’ll ever come to being able to predict when we’ll die – in a general sense. And “how we’ll die” will vary based on each persons’ unique set of circumstances.
Are you a risk taker?
BestHealthDegrees.com compiled data from The National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, and more to put together a comprehensive list of popular activities and your odds of dying from them.
Here are just a few stats that may have you thinking twice next time you ride your bike or have you thinking that the only mountains you should be climbing any time soon are metaphorical ones.
How to protect yourself
There are many misconceptions surrounding life insurance, one of which is cost. On average, people think that the cost of life insurance is significantly more costly than it is in reality. A study conducted by Life Happens found that 44% of millennials believe that life insurance is five times more expensive than it really is – most believing it could cost up to $1,000 a year for a 20-year, $250,000 term life insurance policy.
Death isn’t something the average person likes to think about. It’s hard to imagine a world where you’re no longer a part of it, and forced to leave everything and everyone behind. But since it’s inevitable, there is no reason to avoid confronting proper planning around your finances. Life insurance is a great way to ensure that your financial legacy isn’t one where your loved ones are scrambling to pay for your final-expenses, your dependents are struggling to make ends meet, and your most prized possessions aren’t sold off to pay back debt.
What happens to the debt we leave behind?
Most of us have heard the popular idiom “you can’t take it with you when you go” which refers to money as having no value in the hereafter. And while true, fails to capture the full story as money will still likely play a meaningful role in the lives of those that we leave behind.
According to a study Finder conducted that examined funeral trends from the National Funeral Directors Association and death statistics from the National Center for Health, the average traditional funeral costs $6,723.92 and close to $3,667.97 for cremation. What’s more: the average person leaves behind around 60k in debt when they die. Who knew that dying could be so expensive, but more importantly who’s responsible for these expenses when you die?
Average funeral costs in all 50 states
On the Federal Trade Commission’s website they state that “debts are paid from the deceased person’s estate.” What this means is that the government will use any of the deceased’s assets not left to a beneficiary to pay off their outstanding debts. In the event that there’s not enough in your estate to cover the debts, they will go unpaid. Generally, this means that your living beneficiaries are not on the hook for repaying your debts. However, this is not always the case. Your loved ones could find themselves having to repay any obligations that they co-signed on to – like a mortgage or a car loan.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of leaving behind significant debt is the fact that you could be denying your loved ones keepsakes that you had always planned for your surviving family to inherit. Should you die without sufficient assets to cover your debt, that house, painting, or even coin collection that you thought would be passed down to the next generation could be liquidated to pay off your obligations. Although, it’s worth mentioning that both life insurance and retirement accounts are totally exempt from being used to satisfy debt.
Leaving behind debt can interfere with your peace of mind during your final days. The last thing you should be thinking about as you drift toward the light at the end of the tunnel is “who’s going to pay for my funeral service?” or “what’s going to happen grandma’s ring?” Luckily, there are ways to avoid this through proper planning, which is always best to get a head start on…because depending on your lifestyle death’s door may be closer than you think.
Ask an Expert
What % of men age 75 will live to age 85?
Hi,
Based on our mortality rates research data from 2014, 54.60% of men in the US aged 75 will live to 85.
Thanks,
Jing