The number of people dying from different causes is one way of assessing comparative risks.
The Office for National Statistics published figures each year on the numbers of people dying in the UK from different causes. The following figures are extracted from the report on 2008. The report gives a vast amount of detail. We have chosen some key figures to present here.
| Cause of death |
Number |
| All causes |
509090 |
| Neoplasms |
141143 |
| respiratory organs |
31243 |
| breast |
10779 |
| brain and related |
3230 |
| leukaemia and related |
10678 |
| 0-14 years old |
50 |
| External causes |
18048 |
| Accidents |
12231 |
| Transport accidents |
2710 |
| Intentional self harm |
3438 |
| Assault |
338 |
note: these are figures for deaths and are therefore smaller than the figures for incidence of disease. See more detail on statistics of cancer incidence.
