Human beings are absolutely horrible at estimating the risks they are exposed to.  Here is a graphic and some numbers to help put different risks in perspective.

If you are in the US, here are your one-year chances of dying from …

  • any cause: 1 in 117
  • heart disease: 1 in 384
  • cancer: 1 in 514
  • stroke: 1 in 1,750
  • emphysema/chronic lung disease: 1 in 2,470
  • any accident: 1 in 2,800
  • flu/pneumonia: 1 in 3,025
  • diabetes: 1 in 4,300
  • a motor vehicle accident: 1 in 6,200
  • suicide: 1 in 8,800
  • kidney disease: 1 in 10,625
  • liver disease: 1 in 11,040
  • homicide: 1 in 15,000
  • drowning: 1 in 68,000
  • medical or surgical complications: 1 in 84,000
  • air and space transport: 1 in 390,000
  • excessive cold: 1 in 643,000
  • excessive heat: 1 in 721,000
  • drowning in bathtub: 1 in 800,000
  • alcohol: 1 in 900,000
  • hunger, thirst, exposure, or neglect: 1 in 1 million
  • in bed or cradle: 1 in 1 million
  • a flood caused by a storm: 1 in 1.3 million
  • ignition of clothing: 1 in 1.6 million
  • a handgun: 1 in 1.9 million
  • a fall into a hole: 1 in 2.8 million
  • lightning: 1 in 4.2 million
  • a bee sting: 1 in 6 million
  • antibiotics: 1 in 7 million
  • an earthquake: 1 in 11 million
  • operations of war: 1 in 16 million
  • a dog bite: 1 in 18 million
  • fireworks: 1 in 21 million
  • a spider, lizard, or snakebite: 1 in 54 million
  • foodstuffs and poisonous plants: 1 in 90 million
  • a shark attack: 1 in 350 million

One-year chances of being a victim of …

  • a crime: 1 in 24
  • property crime: 1 in 28
  • larceny: 1 in 40
  • burglary: 1 in 137
  • violent crime: 1 in 200
  • auto theft: 1 in 242
  • aggravated assault: 1 in 310
  • robbery: 1 in 690
  • arson: 1 in 2,700
  • rape: 1 in 3,125
  • murder: 1 in 18,000

Probability of dying at work in one year:

  • Fishermen: 1 in 925
  • Pilots and navigators: 1 in 1,000
  • Garbage collectors: 1 in 2,350
  • Farmers: 1 in 3,800
  • Taxi drivers: 1 in 4,000
  • Fire fighters: 1 in 6,500
  • Police: 1 in 8,200
  • Electricians: 1 in 9,700
  • Construction workers: 1 in 10,000
  • Postal workers: 1 in 34,000
  • Retail cashiers: 1 in 43,000
  • Social workers: 1 in 52,000
  • Bartenders: 1 in 91,000
  • Lawyers: 1 in 96,100
  • Registered nurses: 1 in 125,000
  • Accountants and auditors: 1 in 145,000
  • School teachers: 1 in 200,000

Sources