Odds of Dying - NSC

What are the odds of dying?

The table below was prepared in response to frequent inquiries, especially from the media, asking questions such as, "What are the odds of being killed by lightning?" or "What are the chances of dying in a plane crash?"

The table has four columns. The first column gives the manner of injury such as motor-vehicle crash, fall, fire, etc. The second column gives the total number of deaths nationwide due to the manner of injury in 2002 (the latest year for which data are available). The third column gives the odds of dying in one year due to the manner of injury. The fourth column gives the lifetime odds of dying from the manner of injury. Statements about the odds or chances of dying from a given cause of death may be made as follows:

* The odds of dying from (manner of injury) in 2002 were 1 in (value given in the one-year odds column).
* The life-time odds of dying from (manner of injury) for a person born in 2002 were 1 in (value given in the lifetime odds column).

For example, referring to the first line of the table below:

* The odds of dying from an injury in 2002 were 1 in 1,755.
* The lifetime odds of dying from an injury for a person born in 2002 were 1 in 23.

Odds of Dying - NSC