mortmeter

Atlas

Known risks, with sources. Approximate averages from studies and national statistics; estimates are marked. Your mileage will vary, literally.

Getting around

Micromorts per 100 km

MotorbikeGB; the US is nearly 3 times worse. Source	7
WalkingGB, 10-year average. Source	1.9
BicycleGB, 10-year average. Source	1.7
E-scooter, sharedOperators' own data, 7 deaths. Estimate. Source	1.5
CarEU average; GB 0.1, US 0.35. Source	0.27
FerryGB-registered ships. Estimate. Source	0.05
Bus or coachGB and EU. Source	0.02
TrainEU. Source	0.01
Commercial jetBy distance; per flight is fairer, see Flying. Source	<0.01

Micromorts per flight, or per hour where it says

Small private plane, per hourUS general aviation. Estimate. Source	7
Helicopter, per hourUS, all flying; a ceiling. Estimate. Source	5
Commercial flight, any lengthWorldwide, 2021 to 2025. Source	0.1

Micromorts per climb

Annapurna IAbove base camp, 1970 to 2010. Source	40,000
8,000 m peak in Nepal, averageAbove base camp, 1970 to 2010. Source	16,000
Everest summit attempt1.3% above base camp, 1921 to 2006; lower lately. Source	13,000
Cho OyuThe easiest 8,000 m peak. Source	5,100
Matterhorn ascentWidely quoted, source unverified. Estimate	2,800
Denali1990 to 2000, and falling. Source	2,400
AconcaguaPer permit, 2001 to 2024. Source	750
Mont Blanc, Goûter routeThe Grand Couloir alone, so a floor. Source	350
Kilimanjaro climbTourists, Hauser autopsy study 1996 to 2003	140

Micromorts per go

Isle of Man TT, race week1989 to 1991, the only data. Source	6,400
BASE jumpLauterbrunnen study: 195 to 780. Estimate. Source	430
Professional boxing boutBrain injury only, so a floor. Source	100
Rock climbing, 4-hour dayAustrian Alps. Estimate. Source	20
Heli-skiing dayCanada; a floor. Source	19
TriathlonIncludes survived cardiac arrests, so a ceiling. Source	17
Paragliding flightUK; one Turkish tourist site: 74. Estimate. Source	14
Ski touring dayAvalanche deaths, Swiss residents. Estimate. Source	9
Skydive	8
Hang-glider flight	8
MarathonMostly cardiac	7
Race ride as a jockeyAustralia; only 5 deaths, so very uncertain. Source	7
Scuba diveRecreational	5
Day of skiing	0.7

Micromorts per event

Hip replacementAll deaths within 90 days, patients around 70. Source	2,900
Knee replacementAll deaths within 45 days. Source	2,000
Liposuction1994 to 1998. Estimate. Source	190
Giving birth, mother (US)137 under 25, 623 at 40 and over. Source	180
Giving birth, mother (UK)2021 to 2023. Source	130
Tummy tuckEstimate. Source	76
Night in hospital (England)At least, and not counting why you're there. Source	75
Appendectomy, age 20 to 29All deaths within 30 days, Sweden. Source	70
Giving birth, mother (Denmark)2002 to 2017. Source	70
Brazilian butt lift2019; it was 1 in 3,000 in 2017. Estimate. Source	67
ColonoscopyWithin 30 days. Source	29
General anaestheticElective, UK. Estimate. Source	10
Routine vaccine doseAt most: capped by anaphylaxis. Estimate. Source	1
Dental general anaestheticAt most; none in the UK since 2001. Source	0.3
Blood donationEstimate. Source	0.1

Micromorts per year, or per day where it says

Small-plane pilotCrop dusting, charter, bush flying. Estimate. Source	1,100
LoggingUS. Source	1,000
Commercial fishingUS. Source	900
RoofingUS. Source	500
Truck driverUS. Source	260
FarmerUS; GB 81. Source	190
Oil-field workerUS. Source	150
MinerUS; swings a lot by year. Source	140
Police officerUS, 2023. Source	110
Airline pilotUS; small counts. Estimate. Source	100
Construction workerUS; GB 18. Source	90
FirefighterUS; heart attacks not counted. Source	40
UK soldier in Afghanistan, per day2009, a peak year. Source	33
Office jobMostly the commute. Estimate	10

Micromorts per occasion

Binge-drinking nightUS; includes people killed by drunk drivers, so on the high side. Estimate. Source	25
A day of heroin dependenceEngland and Wales. Estimate. Source	15
Ecstasy tabletEngland and Wales, 1993 to 2006; pills are stronger now. Estimate. Source	0.5

Micromorts per year, or per visit where it says

Murdered, US2024. Source	59
Murdered, Denmark2024. Source	9
House fire, USSource	8.6
House fire, EnglandSource	3.6
Struck by lightning, USSource	0.06
Drowning, per lifeguarded beach visitUS. Source	0.055
Terrorism, EU2024; peak years were higher. Source	0.01
Shark, per beach visitUS; a ceiling. Estimate. Source	<0.01

Micromorts per week, all road deaths, resident average

A week in ThailandNot a tourist rate; a rented scooter is far worse. Estimate. Source	4.2
A week in IndiaEstimate. Source	3.1
A week in VietnamFalling fast, so soft. Estimate. Source	2.5
A week in the USSource	2.1
A week in DenmarkSource	0.54
A week in GBSource	0.48

Micromorts per day, all causes, world average