According to the findings of a survey by IPSOS, when asked what causes of death people think they have the least control over, those in the U.S. are most likely to say being a victim of a terrorist attack, followed by getting cancer and suffering a transport injury. This statistic shows the percentage of U.S. respondents who say they have the least control over select causes of death, as of 2019.
Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019*
Characteristic
Percentage of respondents
Being a victim of a terrorist attack
54%
Getting cancer
38%
Suffering a transport injury e.g. from a road accident
34%
Getting a neurological disorder such as dementia or Parkinson's disease
31%
Being involved in an accident such as drowning, fires and falls'
30%
Being a victim of interpersonal violence such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse
18%
Getting a cardiovascular disease such as heart disease, strokes or heart failure
9%
Getting a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6%
Getting a lower respiratory infection such as pneumonia or tuberculosis
5%
Having a substance use disorder such as drug or alcohol addiction
4%
Getting diabetes or a kidney disease
4%
Getting HIV/AIDS or a sexually transmitted infection (STIs)
3%
Getting a digestive system disease such as cirrhosis or liver disease
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Ipsos. (February 12, 2020). Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 30, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/
Ipsos. "Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019*." Chart. February 12, 2020. Statista. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/
Ipsos. (2020). Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 30, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/
Ipsos. "Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Stated The following Were The Causes of Death They Have Least Control over as of 2019*." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Feb 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/
Ipsos, Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/ (last visited December 30, 2024)
Percentage of U.S. adults who stated the following were the causes of death they have least control over as of 2019* [Graph], Ipsos, February 12, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109022/least-control-causes-of-death-us-adults/
