Recent mortality trends in England

Main findings

Mortality rates and estimates of life expectancy in England have improved since the COVID-19 pandemic. Although 2023 estimates of life expectancy were still lower, and overall mortality rates were still higher than pre-pandemic levels, provisional estimates for 2024 were similar to 2019.

The long-term trend in life expectancy and overall mortality rates was one of continuing improvement until around 2011. Although there was some improvement in the decade before 2020, the level of improvement was far lower than in the preceding 3 decades. The scale of improvement between 2022 and 2024 indicates a return to progress seen in these earlier decades, however this is a short time period coinciding with recovery from the pandemic and it is not possible to predict if this will continue.

In 2024, the female provisional premature mortality rate (deaths under age 75) was similar to 2019, but the male rate remained higher than 2019.

Age-specific mortality rates have fallen (since the pandemic significantly increased mortality rates) but by 2024 not all age groups had returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Cancer mortality rates in 2024 were significantly lower than 2019 for both sexes. While there was concern that disruption to screening and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to an increase in cancer mortality, overall cancer rates have so far followed the long-term trend by continuing to decrease.

Male mortality from cardiovascular disease did increase during the pandemic and the rate in every year between 2020 and 2023 was significantly higher than 2019. A fall in 2024, however, returned the rate to a similar level to 2019. The same trend was not seen for female cardiovascular disease mortality as only the rate for 2022 was significantly higher than 2019 and the 2024 rate was significantly lower than 2019.

There was concern that suicide rates might go up during the pandemic, but rates for both sexes in the years 2020 to 2023 were statistically similar to 2019. However, these data are based on the year deaths were registered in. Suicides are only registered following a coroner’s inquest, and the pandemic affected the function of coroners’ courts, leading to longer delays in death registration.

Alcohol-specific mortality rates have increased for both sexes since 2001, and this increase has been particularly marked since 2019. Rates in 2023 were significantly higher than 2019 for both sexes. Drug misuse mortality rates have also increased for both sexes since 2001. 

Introduction

This report provides recent and long-term trends in mortality in England by sex, age and cause of death, including provisional data for 2024.

Although final estimates of life expectancy and mortality rates are published annually by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), this report releases more up-to-date data and puts it in the context of longer term trends.

A comprehensive review of mortality trends was published in 2018 by Public Health England, which examined, in particular, a slowdown in improvement in mortality rates from around 2011 onwards, and the potential explanatory factors which may have influenced that.

This report, published by OHID in June 2025:

  • provides a complete picture of mortality trends in the decade before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

  • assesses the extent to which levels of mortality have recovered since the pandemic to those seen before the pandemic

The provisional estimates for 2024 allow us to examine more clearly the effect of the pandemic on mortality trends and the subsequent recovery, including whether there appears to have been a longer term impact on specific causes of death.

Number of deaths

Since 2011, the absolute number of deaths in England each year has generally increased, but with fluctuations between individual years. This reverses the previous downward trend, but the increase was expected as the population has both increased and aged. One factor in this is that the post-war ‘baby boomer’ generation has been increasingly moving into older age groups, which have higher mortality rates than younger age groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of deaths by 15% between 2019 and 2020. The total in 2020 was the second highest annual figure ever reported by the ONS, exceeded only by 1918 (the last year of the First World War and the first year of the Spanish flu pandemic). Numbers have since decreased but remain higher than pre-pandemic years (Figure 1).

The number of deaths is not a good indicator of the health of the population as it does not adjust for population size and age structure, however it is useful as an indicator of the burden on health and other services.

Between 1981 and 2019 the annual number of female deaths was higher than the number of male deaths, but since the pandemic this has changed, with more male deaths every year since 2020. This is likely to reflect the greater impact of COVID-19-related mortality on men than women, as well as the effect of men from the ‘baby-boomer’ generation increasingly nearing those ages which have the highest annual numbers of deaths. Although this will also cause an increase in deaths among women, numbers have increased faster for men as their average age at death is lower.

The number of deaths in England per year has generally increased since 2011, which was expected as the population has both increased and aged.

Figure 1: Number of deaths from all causes, England, 1971 to 2024
Year Sex Deaths
1971 Persons 532,445
1971 Male 270,228
1971 Female 262,217
1972 Persons 554,251
1972 Male 280,284
1972 Female 273,967
1973 Persons 549,876
1973 Male 276,860
1973 Female 273,016
1974 Persons 547,980
1974 Male 275,908
1974 Female 272,072
1975 Persons 545,444
1975 Male 274,598
1975 Female 270,846
1976 Persons 560,317
1976 Male 280,191
1976 Female 280,126
1977 Persons 538,652
1977 Male 270,548
1977 Female 268,104
1978 Persons 547,685
1978 Male 275,494
1978 Female 272,191
1979 Persons 554,840
1979 Male 278,129
1979 Female 276,711
1980 Persons 544,349
1980 Male 272,753
1980 Female 271,596
1981 Persons 541,046
1981 Male 270,271
1981 Female 270,775
1982 Persons 545,017
1982 Male 271,489
1982 Female 273,528
1983 Persons 542,530
1983 Male 270,433
1983 Female 272,097
1984 Persons 531,321
1984 Male 264,183
1984 Female 267,138
1985 Persons 553,150
1985 Male 273,397
1985 Female 279,753
1986 Persons 544,545
1986 Male 269,351
1986 Female 275,194
1987 Persons 531,161
1987 Male 262,100
1987 Female 269,061
1988 Persons 535,556
1988 Male 262,999
1988 Female 272,557
1989 Persons 539,796
1989 Male 262,959
1989 Female 276,837
1990 Persons 528,914
1990 Male 259,230
1990 Female 269,684
1991 Persons 533,966
1991 Male 259,662
1991 Female 274,304
1992 Persons 522,656
1992 Male 254,209
1992 Female 268,447
1993 Persons 540,902
1993 Male 260,896
1993 Female 280,006
1994 Persons 516,297
1994 Male 249,364
1994 Female 266,933
1995 Persons 529,033
1995 Male 254,590
1995 Female 274,443
1996 Persons 526,647
1996 Male 252,232
1996 Female 274,415
1997 Persons 521,598
1997 Male 248,438
1997 Female 273,160
1998 Persons 518,084
1998 Male 247,197
1998 Female 270,887
1999 Persons 517,123
1999 Male 245,602
1999 Female 271,521
2000 Persons 503,025
2000 Male 239,931
2000 Female 263,094
2001 Persons 497,878
2001 Male 237,017
2001 Female 260,861
2002 Persons 500,792
2002 Male 237,981
2002 Female 262,811
2003 Persons 504,127
2003 Male 237,639
2003 Female 266,488
2004 Persons 480,717
2004 Male 229,099
2004 Female 251,618
2005 Persons 479,678
2005 Male 227,956
2005 Female 251,722
2006 Persons 470,326
2006 Male 225,314
2006 Female 245,012
2007 Persons 470,721
2007 Male 224,556
2007 Female 246,165
2008 Persons 475,763
2008 Male 226,822
2008 Female 248,941
2009 Persons 459,241
2009 Male 222,379
2009 Female 236,862
2010 Persons 461,017
2010 Male 222,366
2010 Female 238,651
2011 Persons 452,862
2011 Male 219,068
2011 Female 233,794
2012 Persons 466,779
2012 Male 224,460
2012 Female 242,319
2013 Persons 473,552
2013 Male 229,291
2013 Female 244,261
2014 Persons 468,875
2014 Male 229,116
2014 Female 239,759
2015 Persons 495,309
2015 Male 240,417
2015 Female 254,892
2016 Persons 490,791
2016 Male 240,721
2016 Female 250,070
2017 Persons 498,882
2017 Male 245,464
2017 Female 253,418
2018 Persons 505,859
2018 Male 250,012
2018 Female 255,847
2019 Persons 496,370
2019 Male 247,894
2019 Female 248,476
2020 Persons 569,700
2020 Male 288,742
2020 Female 280,958
2021 Persons 549,349
2021 Male 279,173
2021 Female 270,176
2022 Persons 540,333
2022 Male 273,579
2022 Female 266,754
2023 Persons 544,054
2023 Male 276,252
2023 Female 267,802
2024 Persons 531,941
2024 Male 270,851
2024 Female 261,090

Data source 1971 to 2000: Office for National Statistics (ONS) View ONS Age-standardised mortality rates standardised using the both 2013 and 1976 European Standard Populations, by sex, England, 1971 to 2016

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Office for National Statistics (2024 data is provisional)


Life expectancy

In recent decades, life expectancy at birth has generally increased (Figure 2) but there was a marked slowdown in this improvement in the decade before 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a fall in male life expectancy between 2019 and 2020 of 1.3 years, and there was a fall of 0.9 years in female life expectancy. Life expectancy has since improved and provisional estimates for 2024 (male: 79.8 years, female: 83.6 years) are similar to 2019 for both sexes.

Improvement in life expectancy at birth slowed between 2010 and 2019 and life expectancy fell in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Estimates for 2024 are similar to 2019 for both sexes.

Figure 2: Life expectancy at birth, England, 1980 to 2024
Year Sex Value
1980 Male 70.8
1980 Female 76.8
1981 Male 71.1
1981 Female 77.1
1982 Male 71.3
1982 Female 77.2
1983 Male 71.5
1983 Female 77.5
1984 Male 72.0
1984 Female 77.8
1985 Male 71.9
1985 Female 77.6
1986 Male 72.1
1986 Female 77.9
1987 Male 72.5
1987 Female 78.2
1988 Male 72.6
1988 Female 78.3
1989 Male 72.9
1989 Female 78.4
1990 Male 73.1
1990 Female 78.7
1991 Male 73.3
1991 Female 78.8
1992 Male 73.7
1992 Female 79.2
1993 Male 73.7
1993 Female 79.0
1994 Male 74.3
1994 Female 79.5
1995 Male 74.3
1995 Female 79.5
1996 Male 74.5
1996 Female 79.6
1997 Male 74.8
1997 Female 79.7
1998 Male 75.0
1998 Female 79.9
1999 Male 75.2
1999 Female 80.0
2000 Male 75.6
2000 Female 80.4
2001 Male 76.0
2001 Female 80.6
2002 Male 76.1
2002 Female 80.7
2003 Male 76.3
2003 Female 80.7
2004 Male 76.9
2004 Female 81.3
2005 Male 77.1
2005 Female 81.4
2006 Male 77.5
2006 Female 81.7
2007 Male 77.8
2007 Female 81.9
2008 Male 77.9
2008 Female 81.9
2009 Male 78.4
2009 Female 82.5
2010 Male 78.7
2010 Female 82.6
2011 Male 79.1
2011 Female 83.0
2012 Male 79.3
2012 Female 82.9
2013 Male 79.3
2013 Female 83.0
2014 Male 79.5
2014 Female 83.2
2015 Male 79.3
2015 Female 82.9
2016 Male 79.5
2016 Female 83.1
2017 Male 79.5
2017 Female 83.2
2018 Male 79.5
2018 Female 83.2
2019 Male 79.8
2019 Female 83.5
2020 Male 78.5
2020 Female 82.6
2021 Male 78.7
2021 Female 82.8
2022 Male 79.3
2022 Female 83.1
2023 Male 79.2
2023 Female 83.2
2024 Male 79.8
2024 Female 83.6
Life expectancies are specified in years

Data source 1980 to 2023: Office for National Statistics (ONS) View ONS Single year life tables - England edition 2023

Data source 2024: Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Office for National Statistics (2024 data is provisional)


Between 2010 to 2019, the level of improvement in life expectancy at birth, as measured by the average of annual change between years, was much lower than in the preceding 3 decades. Improvement in the 2010s was a third of that seen in the decade 2000 to 2010 for both sexes (Table 1).

Between 2022 and 2024, life expectancy improved at a similar rate to that seen in decades before 2010. It remains, however, difficult to predict changes to life expectancy in coming years.

Table 1: Average annual change in life expectancy at birth, England, by decade
  Years
Decade   Male Female
1980 to 1990   0.22 0.17
1990 to 2000   0.24 0.16
2000 to 2010   0.3 0.23
2010 to 2019   0.09 0.07
2022 to 2024   0.26 0.23
A positive value indicates an improvement in life expectancy within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Life expectancy at age 65 has generally increased over time since the 1980s (Figure 3). However, as with life expectancy at birth, improvement slowed in years before 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a fall of approximately a year for both men and women. Provisional estimates for 2024 are 0.2 years higher than those for 2019, for both men and women.

Life expectancy at age 65 has generally increased over time but as with life expectancy at birth there has been a slowdown since 2011. Estimates for 2024 are higher than 2019 for both sexes.

Figure 3: Life expectancy at age 65, England, 1980 to 2024
Year Sex Value
1980 Male 13.0
1980 Female 17.0
1981 Male 13.1
1981 Female 17.1
1982 Male 13.1
1982 Female 17.1
1983 Male 13.2
1983 Female 17.2
1984 Male 13.5
1984 Female 17.5
1985 Male 13.3
1985 Female 17.3
1986 Male 13.5
1986 Female 17.5
1987 Male 13.8
1987 Female 17.7
1988 Male 13.9
1988 Female 17.7
1989 Male 14.0
1989 Female 17.7
1990 Male 14.1
1990 Female 18.0
1991 Male 14.2
1991 Female 17.9
1992 Male 14.4
1992 Female 18.2
1993 Male 14.3
1993 Female 18.0
1994 Male 14.8
1994 Female 18.4
1995 Male 14.7
1995 Female 18.3
1996 Male 14.9
1996 Female 18.4
1997 Male 15.1
1997 Female 18.5
1998 Male 15.3
1998 Female 18.6
1999 Male 15.5
1999 Female 18.7
2000 Male 15.8
2000 Female 19.0
2001 Male 16.1
2001 Female 19.2
2002 Male 16.2
2002 Female 19.2
2003 Male 16.4
2003 Female 19.2
2004 Male 16.8
2004 Female 19.7
2005 Male 17.0
2005 Female 19.8
2006 Male 17.3
2006 Female 20.1
2007 Male 17.5
2007 Female 20.2
2008 Male 17.6
2008 Female 20.2
2009 Male 18.0
2009 Female 20.7
2010 Male 18.1
2010 Female 20.8
2011 Male 18.4
2011 Female 21.0
2012 Male 18.4
2012 Female 20.9
2013 Male 18.5
2013 Female 20.9
2014 Male 18.7
2014 Female 21.2
2015 Male 18.5
2015 Female 20.9
2016 Male 18.7
2016 Female 21.1
2017 Male 18.7
2017 Female 21.1
2018 Male 18.7
2018 Female 21.1
2019 Male 19.0
2019 Female 21.4
2020 Male 18.0
2020 Female 20.6
2021 Male 18.4
2021 Female 21.0
2022 Male 18.7
2022 Female 21.2
2023 Male 18.8
2023 Female 21.3
2024 Male 19.2
2024 Female 21.6
Life expectancies are specified in years

Data source 1980 to 2023: Office for National Statistics (ONS) View ONS Single year life tables - England edition 2023

Data source 2024: Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Office for National Statistics (2024 data is provisional)


For both men and women, the level of improvement in life expectancy at age 65 between 2010 and 2019 was less than a third of the improvement seen between 2000 and 2010 (Table 2). As with life expectancy at birth, the rate of improvement between 2022 and 2024 indicates a return to levels of improvement seen in decades before 2010.

Table 2: Average annual change in life expectancy at 65, England, by decade
  Years
Decade   Male Female
1980 to 1990   0.11 0.1
1990 to 2000   0.16 0.1
2000 to 2010   0.24 0.18
2010 to 2019   0.07 0.05
2022 to 2024   0.23 0.21
A positive value indicates an improvement in life expectancy within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Mortality rates

Age-standardised mortality rates provide an alternative summary measure of mortality which, like life expectancy, take account of changes to both population size and age structure. A decrease in a mortality rate is an improvement.

All cause mortality rates

In England, the age-standardised mortality rate has generally decreased for both sexes since 1971 (Figure 4). However, in 2020 the male rate increased by 15% and the female rate by 12%. Since 2020, mortality rates for both sexes have decreased annually and the provisional 2024 rates are similar to 2019.

Age-standardised all cause mortality rates have generally declined but remain higher in 2023 than in 2019.

Figure 4: Age-standardised all cause mortality rates, England, 1971 to 2024
Year Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
1971 Male 270,228 2,338 2,327 2,349
1971 Female 262,217 1,486 1,480 1,492
1972 Male 280,284 2,414 2,403 2,425
1972 Female 273,967 1,533 1,527 1,539
1973 Male 276,860 2,373 2,362 2,384
1973 Female 273,016 1,515 1,509 1,521
1974 Male 275,908 2,353 2,342 2,364
1974 Female 272,072 1,497 1,491 1,502
1975 Male 274,598 2,325 2,315 2,336
1975 Female 270,846 1,471 1,465 1,477
1976 Male 280,191 2,365 2,354 2,376
1976 Female 280,126 1,512 1,506 1,518
1977 Male 270,548 2,244 2,234 2,255
1977 Female 268,104 1,421 1,415 1,426
1978 Male 275,494 2,254 2,243 2,264
1978 Female 272,191 1,420 1,414 1,425
1979 Male 278,129 2,258 2,248 2,268
1979 Female 276,711 1,428 1,423 1,434
1980 Male 272,753 2,174 2,164 2,184
1980 Female 271,596 1,378 1,373 1,384
1981 Male 270,271 2,150 2,140 2,160
1981 Female 270,775 1,357 1,352 1,363
1982 Male 271,489 2,142 2,132 2,152
1982 Female 273,528 1,355 1,350 1,361
1983 Male 270,433 2,117 2,107 2,127
1983 Female 272,097 1,332 1,327 1,337
1984 Male 264,183 2,042 2,032 2,051
1984 Female 267,138 1,288 1,283 1,293
1985 Male 273,397 2,096 2,087 2,106
1985 Female 279,753 1,327 1,322 1,332
1986 Male 269,351 2,030 2,021 2,039
1986 Female 275,194 1,287 1,282 1,292
1987 Male 262,100 1,936 1,927 1,944
1987 Female 269,061 1,240 1,235 1,245
1988 Male 262,999 1,930 1,921 1,938
1988 Female 272,557 1,242 1,238 1,247
1989 Male 262,959 1,928 1,919 1,936
1989 Female 276,837 1,244 1,240 1,249
1990 Male 259,230 1,872 1,863 1,880
1990 Female 269,684 1,197 1,193 1,202
1991 Male 259,662 1,867 1,859 1,875
1991 Female 274,304 1,204 1,200 1,209
1992 Male 254,209 1,801 1,793 1,809
1992 Female 268,447 1,163 1,158 1,167
1993 Male 260,896 1,838 1,830 1,845
1993 Female 280,006 1,198 1,194 1,203
1994 Male 249,364 1,737 1,730 1,745
1994 Female 266,933 1,134 1,130 1,139
1995 Male 254,590 1,749 1,742 1,757
1995 Female 274,443 1,150 1,145 1,154
1996 Male 252,232 1,715 1,708 1,722
1996 Female 274,415 1,140 1,135 1,144
1997 Male 248,438 1,672 1,665 1,679
1997 Female 273,160 1,128 1,124 1,132
1998 Male 247,197 1,640 1,633 1,647
1998 Female 270,887 1,110 1,106 1,114
1999 Male 245,602 1,614 1,607 1,621
1999 Female 271,521 1,108 1,104 1,112
2000 Male 239,931 1,551 1,544 1,557
2000 Female 263,094 1,062 1,058 1,066
2001 Male 237,017 1,503 1,497 1,510
2001 Female 260,861 1,040 1,036 1,044
2002 Male 237,981 1,490 1,484 1,496
2002 Female 262,811 1,040 1,036 1,044
2003 Male 237,639 1,473 1,467 1,480
2003 Female 266,488 1,050 1,046 1,054
2004 Male 229,099 1,393 1,387 1,399
2004 Female 251,618 988 984 992
2005 Male 227,956 1,361 1,355 1,367
2005 Female 251,722 976 972 980
2006 Male 225,314 1,319 1,313 1,325
2006 Female 245,012 941 937 944
2007 Male 224,556 1,290 1,284 1,296
2007 Female 246,165 934 930 938
2008 Male 226,822 1,283 1,278 1,289
2008 Female 248,941 939 935 943
2009 Male 222,379 1,223 1,218 1,228
2009 Female 236,862 882 878 885
2010 Male 222,366 1,194 1,189 1,200
2010 Female 238,651 871 868 875
2011 Male 219,068 1,151 1,146 1,156
2011 Female 233,794 838 835 842
2012 Male 224,460 1,154 1,149 1,159
2012 Female 242,319 852 848 855
2013 Male 229,291 1,153 1,148 1,158
2013 Female 244,261 849 845 852
2014 Male 229,116 1,119 1,114 1,123
2014 Female 239,759 819 816 822
2015 Male 240,417 1,157 1,152 1,161
2015 Female 254,892 862 859 865
2016 Male 240,721 1,130 1,125 1,134
2016 Female 250,070 838 835 841
2017 Male 245,464 1,129 1,124 1,133
2017 Female 253,418 838 835 842
2018 Male 250,012 1,127 1,122 1,131
2018 Female 255,847 839 836 843
2019 Male 247,894 1,089 1,084 1,093
2019 Female 248,476 802 799 805
2020 Male 288,742 1,256 1,252 1,261
2020 Female 280,958 901 898 905
2021 Male 279,173 1,190 1,186 1,195
2021 Female 270,176 860 857 863
2022 Male 273,579 1,144 1,140 1,148
2022 Female 266,754 833 830 836
2023 Male 276,252 1,133 1,129 1,138
2023 Female 267,802 826 823 830
2024 Male 270,851 1,086 1,082 1,090
2024 Female 261,090 794 791 797
Rates are standardised rates per 100,000 population

Data source 1971 to 2000: Office for National Statistics (ONS) View ONS Age-standardised mortality rates standardised using the both 2013 and 1976 European Standard Populations, by sex, England, 1971 to 2016

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

View age-standardised mortality rate definition in the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Office for National Statistics (2024 data is provisional)


Table 3 shows that there was an improvement in the mortality rate for each decade since the 1970s for both sexes. The improvement was, however, notably less between 2010 and 2019, being around a fifth of that seen between 2000 and 2010 for both sexes.

As with life expectancy, the improvement between 2022 and 2024 was similar to the level seen in decades before 2010, but we cannot predict if this will continue.

Table 3: Average annual change in age-standardised all cause mortality rates, England, by decade
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   Male Female
1971 to 1980   -20.9 -14.3
1980 to 1990   -31 -17.1
1990 to 2000   -31.4 -12.3
2000 to 2010   -36 -19.7
2010 to 2019   -7.8 -4.1
2022 to 2024   -28.9 -19.4
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Under 75 mortality rate from all causes

Premature mortality, defined here as deaths under age 75, is a good indicator of the overall health of a population, being correlated with many other measures of population health. There are significant differences between the premature death rates in different areas, reflecting a wide range of underlying differences between these populations.

The under 75 mortality rate from all causes decreased between 2001 and 2024, by a similar amount for both sexes (Figure 5). There was an increase for both sexes during the COVID-19 pandemic (the male rate by 14% and the female rate by 10% between 2019 and 2020). The female provisional rate for 2024 was similar to 2019, but the male rate remained higher.

Under 75 mortality rate from all causes has generally decreased over time. Compared with 2019, the female rate in 2024 was similar but the male rate was higher.

Figure 5: Under 75 all cause mortality rate, England, 2001 to 2024
Year Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Male 105,722 577 574 581
2001 Female 70,525 355 353 358
2002 Male 104,577 566 562 569
2002 Female 69,217 347 345 350
2003 Male 103,158 552 548 555
2003 Female 68,994 343 341 346
2004 Male 99,168 525 522 529
2004 Female 66,311 328 325 330
2005 Male 97,528 510 507 513
2005 Female 65,148 320 317 322
2006 Male 95,771 495 492 499
2006 Female 63,939 312 310 314
2007 Male 94,080 479 476 483
2007 Female 63,299 305 303 308
2008 Male 94,257 471 468 474
2008 Female 63,638 302 299 304
2009 Male 92,180 452 449 455
2009 Female 61,672 288 285 290
2010 Male 91,342 442 439 445
2010 Female 61,482 283 281 285
2011 Male 89,116 427 424 429
2011 Female 60,550 275 273 278
2012 Male 87,986 414 411 417
2012 Female 60,721 272 270 274
2013 Male 89,167 412 410 415
2013 Female 60,800 268 265 270
2014 Male 89,335 405 403 408
2014 Female 61,155 264 262 266
2015 Male 91,248 407 405 410
2015 Female 62,591 266 264 268
2016 Male 92,666 405 403 408
2016 Female 64,535 269 267 271
2017 Male 93,512 401 398 403
2017 Female 63,750 260 258 262
2018 Male 95,393 403 401 406
2018 Female 65,274 262 260 264
2019 Male 93,564 392 390 395
2019 Female 64,176 255 253 257
2020 Male 106,785 446 443 448
2020 Female 70,815 280 277 282
2021 Male 108,141 448 445 451
2021 Female 72,415 283 281 285
2022 Male 100,706 420 417 422
2022 Female 68,335 269 267 271
2023 Male 100,922 420 417 423
2023 Female 67,936 267 265 269
2024 Male 97,955 404 402 407
2024 Female 66,107 258 256 260
Rates are standardised rates per 100,000 population

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

View age-standardised mortality rate definition in the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Office for National Statistics (2024 data is provisional)


Table 4 shows that there has been an improvement in the under 75 mortality rate from all causes for all the time periods studied, for both sexes. Between 2010 and 2019, the improvement was less than the other time periods at around a third of the previous time period (2001 to 2010). The improvement between 2022 and 2024 was more than in 2010 to 2019, but less than 2001 to 2010.

Table 4: Average annual change in under 75 all cause mortality rate, England, by decade
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   Male Female
2001 to 2010   -15.53 -8.19
2010 to 2019   -4.25 -2.42
2022 to 2024   -7.76 -5.57
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Causes of death

Leading causes of death

In 2024, provisional data shows that deaths from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and COVID-19 accounted for 75% of all deaths in England. Cardiovascular disease (24%) and cancer (26%) made up the largest proportions.

In 2001, the cardiovascular disease mortality rate was higher than the cancer mortality rate for both sexes (Figure 6). Over the next 10 years, the mortality rates from cardiovascular disease fell faster than the rate for cancer, falling below the rates for cancer in 2011. Since 2011 the female mortality rate for cancer has remained higher than the rate for cardiovascular disease. However, between 2019 and 2022, the downward trend in the male rate for cardiovascular disease mortality reversed and in 2022 and 2023 rates were statistically similar to male mortality rates for cancer. Provisional estimates for 2024 show a decrease for both sexes for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Recent trends for cancer and cardiovascular disease are considered in more detail below.

Between 2001 and 2019, for both sexes, there was a downward trend in deaths from respiratory disease. This trend accelerated during the pandemic (deaths from COVID-19 are not included in deaths from respiratory disease). Between 2019 and 2021, the male mortality rate for respiratory disease fell by 23% and the female rate fell by 28%. Rates for both sexes increased in 2022 and 2023, but they fell in 2024 and those provisional estimates were lower than the rates in 2019.

There was an upward trend in deaths from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease between 2001 and 2020, with a decline in 2021. The trend has been stable between 2021 and 2024.

COVID-19 was a leading cause of death in 2020, with the male mortality rate higher than both respiratory disease and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The female COVID-19 mortality rate was higher than respiratory disease but lower than dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. Between 2020 and 2024, there was a significant fall each year in the mortality rate from COVID-19 for both sexes.

In contrast to other leading causes of death, mortality rates from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease increased between 2001 and 2024.

Figure 6: Age-standardised mortality rates for leading causes of death, England, 2001 to 2024
Year Cause Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Cancer Male 66,073 393.8 390.7 397.0
2001 Cancer Female 61,286 256.8 254.8 258.9
2001 Cardiovascular disease Male 88,546 570.9 566.9 574.9
2001 Cardiovascular disease Female 95,452 374.6 372.2 377.0
2001 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,152 63.9 62.4 65.4
2001 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 16,381 62.1 61.1 63.0
2001 Respiratory disease Male 29,233 208.5 206.0 211.1
2001 Respiratory disease Female 34,051 134.3 132.9 135.8
2002 Cancer Male 66,748 392.3 389.2 395.4
2002 Cancer Female 61,631 256.5 254.4 258.5
2002 Cardiovascular disease Male 87,442 558.5 554.6 562.5
2002 Cardiovascular disease Female 94,572 368.0 365.7 370.4
2002 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,237 63.5 62.0 64.9
2002 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 16,836 63.4 62.5 64.4
2002 Respiratory disease Male 29,948 210.0 207.5 212.6
2002 Respiratory disease Female 35,878 140.3 138.9 141.8
2003 Cancer Male 66,273 385.3 382.2 388.3
2003 Cancer Female 61,015 252.5 250.5 254.6
2003 Cardiovascular disease Male 84,926 535.5 531.7 539.3
2003 Cardiovascular disease Female 93,335 362.0 359.7 364.3
2003 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,288 63.0 61.5 64.4
2003 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 17,964 67.6 66.6 68.6
2003 Respiratory disease Male 31,573 219.7 217.1 222.3
2003 Respiratory disease Female 38,599 150.6 149.1 152.1
2004 Cancer Male 65,934 378.1 375.1 381.1
2004 Cancer Female 60,114 247.9 245.9 249.9
2004 Cardiovascular disease Male 79,847 495.6 492.0 499.2
2004 Cardiovascular disease Female 85,757 331.1 328.9 333.3
2004 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,050 60.0 58.6 61.4
2004 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 16,964 63.6 62.7 64.6
2004 Respiratory disease Male 29,738 201.6 199.2 204.1
2004 Respiratory disease Female 35,261 136.7 135.2 138.1
2005 Cancer Male 65,778 371.4 368.5 374.4
2005 Cancer Female 60,469 247.3 245.3 249.3
2005 Cardiovascular disease Male 76,751 468.0 464.5 471.5
2005 Cardiovascular disease Female 82,312 313.6 311.5 315.8
2005 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,126 58.6 57.3 60.0
2005 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 17,270 63.6 62.6 64.5
2005 Respiratory disease Male 30,653 203.2 200.8 205.7
2005 Respiratory disease Female 37,147 142.1 140.6 143.5
2006 Cancer Male 66,394 368.1 365.2 371.0
2006 Cancer Female 60,385 244.9 242.9 246.9
2006 Cardiovascular disease Male 73,496 439.6 436.3 443.0
2006 Cardiovascular disease Female 77,959 293.6 291.5 295.7
2006 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 8,522 59.7 58.4 61.0
2006 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 17,486 63.5 62.6 64.5
2006 Respiratory disease Male 29,528 191.4 189.1 193.7
2006 Respiratory disease Female 34,846 131.9 130.5 133.3
2007 Cancer Male 66,526 362.0 359.2 364.9
2007 Cancer Female 61,193 245.3 243.4 247.3
2007 Cardiovascular disease Male 71,469 418.7 415.5 422.0
2007 Cardiovascular disease Female 76,053 282.6 280.5 284.6
2007 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 9,769 66.8 65.4 68.2
2007 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 19,733 70.9 69.9 71.9
2007 Respiratory disease Male 29,468 186.5 184.3 188.8
2007 Respiratory disease Female 35,026 131.3 129.9 132.7
2008 Cancer Male 67,305 360.1 357.3 362.9
2008 Cancer Female 61,497 243.9 242.0 245.9
2008 Cardiovascular disease Male 70,454 407.9 404.7 411.1
2008 Cardiovascular disease Female 75,363 278.2 276.2 280.2
2008 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 10,804 72.9 71.5 74.4
2008 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 21,987 78.8 77.7 79.8
2008 Respiratory disease Male 30,691 190.9 188.6 193.2
2008 Respiratory disease Female 36,465 136.3 134.9 137.7
2009 Cancer Male 67,797 354.1 351.3 356.8
2009 Cancer Female 60,751 238.5 236.6 240.4
2009 Cardiovascular disease Male 67,734 381.1 378.1 384.1
2009 Cardiovascular disease Female 70,805 257.7 255.7 259.6
2009 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 10,857 70.7 69.3 72.1
2009 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 21,544 76.1 75.1 77.2
2009 Respiratory disease Male 29,709 179.1 177.0 181.3
2009 Respiratory disease Female 33,408 123.2 121.9 124.6
2010 Cancer Male 68,207 349.7 347.0 352.4
2010 Cancer Female 61,316 237.3 235.4 239.2
2010 Cardiovascular disease Male 67,363 369.9 367.0 372.9
2010 Cardiovascular disease Female 69,666 248.5 246.7 250.4
2010 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 11,922 74.6 73.2 76.0
2010 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 24,066 82.8 81.7 83.8
2010 Respiratory disease Male 29,490 171.9 169.8 173.9
2010 Respiratory disease Female 33,287 120.3 119.0 121.6
2011 Cancer Male 68,925 346.9 344.3 349.6
2011 Cancer Female 62,107 237.3 235.4 239.2
2011 Cardiovascular disease Male 63,824 341.6 338.8 344.3
2011 Cardiovascular disease Female 65,260 229.1 227.3 230.9
2011 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 12,018 73.2 71.9 74.6
2011 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 25,601 85.6 84.5 86.6
2011 Respiratory disease Male 29,082 164.6 162.7 166.6
2011 Respiratory disease Female 32,355 114.3 113.0 115.5
2012 Cancer Male 70,389 346.5 343.9 349.1
2012 Cancer Female 62,715 236.1 234.2 237.9
2012 Cardiovascular disease Male 63,693 333.0 330.3 335.7
2012 Cardiovascular disease Female 66,838 230.1 228.4 231.9
2012 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 14,081 82.6 81.2 84.1
2012 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 29,572 96.6 95.5 97.7
2012 Respiratory disease Male 30,425 167.5 165.6 169.5
2012 Respiratory disease Female 33,797 117.1 115.8 118.3
2013 Cancer Male 70,458 339.6 337.0 342.1
2013 Cancer Female 62,410 232.0 230.2 233.9
2013 Cardiovascular disease Male 64,348 328.3 325.7 330.9
2013 Cardiovascular disease Female 65,100 221.6 219.9 223.3
2013 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 15,390 88.1 86.6 89.5
2013 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 31,584 102.2 101.1 103.4
2013 Respiratory disease Male 31,889 171.1 169.1 173.0
2013 Respiratory disease Female 35,370 121.3 120.0 122.6
2014 Cancer Male 71,444 336.0 333.5 338.5
2014 Cancer Female 62,908 229.8 228.0 231.6
2014 Cardiovascular disease Male 63,765 315.5 313.0 318.0
2014 Cardiovascular disease Female 62,497 209.0 207.3 210.7
2014 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 16,175 89.6 88.2 91.1
2014 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 32,285 102.4 101.3 103.5
2014 Respiratory disease Male 29,866 154.2 152.5 156.0
2014 Respiratory disease Female 31,975 108.2 107.0 109.4
2015 Cancer Male 72,179 333.4 330.9 335.9
2015 Cancer Female 63,120 228.2 226.4 230.0
2015 Cardiovascular disease Male 65,080 316.2 313.8 318.7
2015 Cardiovascular disease Female 63,642 211.6 209.9 213.3
2015 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 19,312 104.8 103.2 106.3
2015 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 38,986 123.0 121.8 124.3
2015 Respiratory disease Male 33,318 169.3 167.4 171.1
2015 Respiratory disease Female 36,554 122.4 121.1 123.6
2016 Cancer Male 72,824 329.8 327.3 332.2
2016 Cancer Female 64,072 229.1 227.3 230.9
2016 Cardiovascular disease Male 63,740 301.8 299.4 304.2
2016 Cardiovascular disease Female 60,470 199.0 197.4 200.6
2016 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 19,985 105.2 103.7 106.7
2016 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 39,408 122.9 121.7 124.1
2016 Respiratory disease Male 32,698 160.5 158.7 162.3
2016 Respiratory disease Female 34,107 113.8 112.6 115.0
2017 Cancer Male 73,400 325.3 322.9 327.7
2017 Cancer Female 63,567 223.7 222.0 225.5
2017 Cardiovascular disease Male 64,169 297.3 294.9 299.6
2017 Cardiovascular disease Female 60,055 195.7 194.1 197.2
2017 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 21,725 111.5 110.0 113.0
2017 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 42,059 130.0 128.8 131.3
2017 Respiratory disease Male 33,259 159.9 158.2 161.7
2017 Respiratory disease Female 34,841 114.4 113.2 115.7
2018 Cancer Male 73,346 318.8 316.5 321.2
2018 Cancer Female 63,560 220.7 219.0 222.5
2018 Cardiovascular disease Male 64,464 291.8 289.5 294.1
2018 Cardiovascular disease Female 58,343 188.8 187.2 190.3
2018 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 22,314 111.6 110.1 113.1
2018 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 43,074 132.8 131.6 134.1
2018 Respiratory disease Male 34,560 162.3 160.6 164.1
2018 Respiratory disease Female 36,332 118.6 117.4 119.8
2019 Cancer Male 73,805 313.4 311.1 315.7
2019 Cancer Female 64,046 218.2 216.5 219.9
2019 Cardiovascular disease Male 63,532 280.6 278.4 282.9
2019 Cardiovascular disease Female 56,716 180.1 178.6 181.6
2019 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 22,339 108.1 106.7 109.6
2019 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 40,437 122.4 121.2 123.6
2019 Respiratory disease Male 33,104 150.4 148.7 152.0
2019 Respiratory disease Female 34,002 109.2 108.0 110.4
2020 COVID-19 Male 38,521 169.9 168.2 171.7
2020 COVID-19 Female 30,769 97.9 96.8 99.0
2020 Cancer Male 73,909 310.3 308.0 312.6
2020 Cancer Female 64,117 217.0 215.3 218.7
2020 Cardiovascular disease Male 66,443 289.3 287.1 291.6
2020 Cardiovascular disease Female 57,664 182.8 181.3 184.3
2020 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 22,785 108.9 107.4 110.3
2020 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 43,351 131.3 130.1 132.6
2020 Respiratory disease Male 29,582 132.7 131.1 134.2
2020 Respiratory disease Female 28,212 90.4 89.3 91.4
2021 COVID-19 Male 34,749 148.7 147.1 150.3
2021 COVID-19 Female 28,803 91.8 90.8 92.9
2021 Cancer Male 72,225 298.3 296.1 300.5
2021 Cancer Female 63,420 211.5 209.8 213.2
2021 Cardiovascular disease Male 67,745 289.5 287.3 291.7
2021 Cardiovascular disease Female 57,700 181.1 179.6 182.6
2021 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 19,786 92.8 91.5 94.1
2021 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 37,921 113.8 112.7 115.0
2021 Respiratory disease Male 26,209 115.4 114.0 116.8
2021 Respiratory disease Female 24,794 78.7 77.8 79.7
2022 COVID-19 Male 11,477 50.2 49.2 51.1
2022 COVID-19 Female 9,590 29.5 28.9 30.1
2022 Cancer Male 74,583 301.5 299.3 303.7
2022 Cancer Female 65,039 213.1 211.4 214.7
2022 Cardiovascular disease Male 71,266 298.0 295.8 300.2
2022 Cardiovascular disease Female 60,012 185.0 183.5 186.5
2022 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 22,014 100.2 98.9 101.6
2022 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 40,104 118.1 116.9 119.3
2022 Respiratory disease Male 30,285 129.5 128.1 131.0
2022 Respiratory disease Female 29,190 91.1 90.0 92.1
2023 COVID-19 Male 5,999 25.7 25.0 26.4
2023 COVID-19 Female 5,017 15.2 14.8 15.6
2023 Cancer Male 74,753 296.6 294.5 298.8
2023 Cancer Female 64,790 209.4 207.7 211.0
2023 Cardiovascular disease Male 71,634 294.2 292.0 296.4
2023 Cardiovascular disease Female 59,431 181.2 179.7 182.7
2023 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 22,569 100.6 99.2 101.9
2023 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 40,486 117.9 116.8 119.1
2023 Respiratory disease Male 33,817 141.9 140.4 143.5
2023 Respiratory disease Female 32,708 100.6 99.5 101.7
2024 COVID-19 Male 3,385 14.1 13.7 14.6
2024 COVID-19 Female 2,765 8.3 7.9 8.6
2024 Cancer Male 74,869 291.2 289.1 293.3
2024 Cancer Female 64,924 205.9 204.4 207.6
2024 Cardiovascular disease Male 69,549 279.0 276.9 281.1
2024 Cardiovascular disease Female 56,709 170.5 169.0 171.9
2024 Dementia and Alzheimer's Male 23,463 101.7 100.4 103.1
2024 Dementia and Alzheimer's Female 40,891 117.6 116.5 118.8
2024 Respiratory disease Male 32,895 134.8 133.4 136.3
2024 Respiratory disease Female 31,340 95.1 94.0 96.1
Rates are standardised rates per 100,000 population

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

View age-standardised mortality rate definition in the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, based on Office for National Statistics data (2024 data is provisional)


Table 5 shows that for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the mortality rate increased for both sexes across both decades (2001 to 2010 and 2010 to 2019) and the increase was larger in the second decade.

The reduction in mortality rates from both cardiovascular and respiratory diseases was larger in the earlier decade (2001 to 2010) for both sexes.

Compared with these other leading causes, reductions in cancer mortality rates were similar across these time periods for both sexes.

Table 5: Average annual change in age-standardised mortality rates for leading causes of death, England, by decade
(a) Male
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   Cancer Cardiovascular disease Dementia and Alzheimer's Respiratory disease
2001 to 2010   -5.1 -23.92 1.32 -4.53
2010 to 2019   -4 -8.54 4.73 -1.6
2022 to 2024   -5.14 -9.49 0.75 2.65
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality rate within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Female
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   Cancer Cardiovascular disease Dementia and Alzheimer's Respiratory disease
2001 to 2010   -2.15 -15.1 2.14 -2.08
2010 to 2019   -2.18 -6.88 5.68 -0.55
2022 to 2024   -3.56 -7.29 -0.23 2
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality rate within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Cancer

While there was concern that disruption to screening and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to an increase in cancer mortality, overall rates have so far followed the long-term trend by continuing to decrease.

Provisional cancer rates for 2024 (male: 291 per 100,000 population, female: 206 per 100,000) were significantly lower than both 2023 and 2019 (Figure 7).

For deaths, the most common cancer sites are lung and colorectal (bowel) for both sexes, followed by prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women. Mortality rates for female breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer for both sexes, were significantly lower in 2024 than in 2019. For colorectal cancer, rates were similar to 2019 for both sexes.

For some cancer sites, long-term trends show a different picture to the overall cancer trend.

The male lung cancer mortality rate fell by 46% between 2001 and 2024. Although the female rate remained lower than the male rate across the whole of this period, the trend was different, increasing between 2001 and 2008, before starting to fall. The female rate in 2024 was 10% lower than 2001. Higher male lung cancer mortality is likely to be related to higher smoking prevalence over time in men than in women, as an estimated 78% of lung cancer deaths in the UK are caused by smoking tobacco. Trends in smoking prevalence and smoking cessation are therefore likely to explain the difference in trends in lung cancer mortality between the sexes.

In 1948, estimated smoking prevalence for men was twice as high as for women (82% and 41% respectively). However, once the dangers of smoking became clearer, smoking prevalence fell faster among men and levels of smoking between the sexes started to converge. Between 1974 and 1990, smoking prevalence fell by 40% for men but only by 28% for women. This difference may have contributed to the fact that female lung cancer rates were increasing in the first decade of this century. In 2023, smoking prevalence was 13.4% in men and 9.9% in women.

Breast cancer and prostate cancer mortality rates fell between 2001 and 2024, by 36% and 30% respectively. Male and female colorectal cancer mortality rates also fell across this period, by 25% and 19% respectively. However, the female mortality rate for colorectal cancer did not improve in the 10 years to 2024.

While cancer mortality rates generally fell between 2001 and 2024, the female lung cancer rate increased in the 2000s.

Figure 7: Age-standardised mortality rates for cancer, England, 2001 to 2024
Year Cause Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Breast cancer Female 10,945 46.1 45.2 46.9
2001 Colorectal cancer Male 6,899 41.1 40.1 42.2
2001 Colorectal cancer Female 6,119 25.2 24.5 25.8
2001 Lung cancer Male 16,559 96.1 94.6 97.6
2001 Lung cancer Female 10,439 44.8 43.9 45.6
2001 Prostate cancer Male 8,581 58.1 56.8 59.4
2002 Breast cancer Female 10,879 45.4 44.5 46.3
2002 Colorectal cancer Male 6,985 41.1 40.1 42.2
2002 Colorectal cancer Female 6,217 25.4 24.8 26
2002 Lung cancer Male 16,383 93.4 91.9 94.8
2002 Lung cancer Female 10,699 45.5 44.7 46.4
2002 Prostate cancer Male 8,753 58.5 57.2 59.8
2003 Breast cancer Female 10,582 43.9 43.1 44.8
2003 Colorectal cancer Male 6,883 40.1 39.1 41.1
2003 Colorectal cancer Female 6,034 24.6 24 25.2
2003 Lung cancer Male 16,069 90.9 89.5 92.4
2003 Lung cancer Female 10,906 46.0 45.1 46.9
2003 Prostate cancer Male 8,857 58.7 57.4 60
2004 Breast cancer Female 10,369 42.9 42.1 43.7
2004 Colorectal cancer Male 6,946 40.0 39 41
2004 Colorectal cancer Female 6,049 24.6 24 25.2
2004 Lung cancer Male 15,740 87.6 86.2 89.1
2004 Lung cancer Female 10,678 45.0 44.2 45.9
2004 Prostate cancer Male 8,818 57.2 56 58.5
2005 Breast cancer Female 10,377 42.4 41.6 43.3
2005 Colorectal cancer Male 6,938 39.4 38.4 40.3
2005 Colorectal cancer Female 6,002 24.2 23.5 24.8
2005 Lung cancer Male 15,692 86.4 85 87.8
2005 Lung cancer Female 11,119 46.5 45.7 47.4
2005 Prostate cancer Male 8,777 55.8 54.6 57.1
2006 Breast cancer Female 10,322 41.8 41 42.6
2006 Colorectal cancer Male 6,873 38.3 37.4 39.3
2006 Colorectal cancer Female 6,008 23.9 23.3 24.5
2006 Lung cancer Male 15,846 85.8 84.5 87.2
2006 Lung cancer Female 11,540 47.9 47.1 48.8
2006 Prostate cancer Male 8,795 54.6 53.4 55.8
2007 Breast cancer Female 10,064 40.4 39.7 41.3
2007 Colorectal cancer Male 6,801 36.9 36 37.8
2007 Colorectal cancer Female 6,053 23.8 23.2 24.4
2007 Lung cancer Male 15,811 84.1 82.8 85.5
2007 Lung cancer Female 11,869 48.6 47.7 49.5
2007 Prostate cancer Male 8,958 54.4 53.3 55.6
2008 Breast cancer Female 10,142 40.2 39.5 41
2008 Colorectal cancer Male 7,077 38.0 37.1 38.9
2008 Colorectal cancer Female 6,004 23.4 22.8 24
2008 Lung cancer Male 16,019 84.0 82.7 85.4
2008 Lung cancer Female 12,203 49.5 48.6 50.4
2008 Prostate cancer Male 8,890 53.0 51.8 54.1
2009 Breast cancer Female 9,825 38.6 37.8 39.3
2009 Colorectal cancer Male 6,892 36.0 35.1 36.9
2009 Colorectal cancer Female 5,812 22.4 21.8 23
2009 Lung cancer Male 15,949 81.8 80.5 83.1
2009 Lung cancer Female 12,111 48.6 47.7 49.4
2009 Prostate cancer Male 9,146 52.6 51.5 53.7
2010 Breast cancer Female 9,706 37.6 36.8 38.4
2010 Colorectal cancer Male 7,055 36.1 35.2 37
2010 Colorectal cancer Female 5,863 22.2 21.6 22.8
2010 Lung cancer Male 15,748 79.0 77.7 80.2
2010 Lung cancer Female 12,317 48.7 47.9 49.6
2010 Prostate cancer Male 9,399 53.1 52 54.2
2011 Breast cancer Female 9,775 37.3 36.5 38
2011 Colorectal cancer Male 6,974 35.3 34.4 36.2
2011 Colorectal cancer Female 5,817 21.7 21.1 22.3
2011 Lung cancer Male 15,707 77.6 76.3 78.8
2011 Lung cancer Female 12,459 48.7 47.8 49.6
2011 Prostate cancer Male 9,416 51.9 50.8 53
2012 Breast cancer Female 9,770 36.7 35.9 37.4
2012 Colorectal cancer Male 7,198 35.6 34.7 36.4
2012 Colorectal cancer Female 5,955 21.9 21.3 22.5
2012 Lung cancer Male 15,618 75.3 74.1 76.6
2012 Lung cancer Female 12,697 48.8 48 49.7
2012 Prostate cancer Male 9,433 50.7 49.7 51.8
2013 Breast cancer Female 9,616 35.6 34.9 36.3
2013 Colorectal cancer Male 7,051 34.0 33.2 34.9
2013 Colorectal cancer Female 5,869 21.3 20.8 21.9
2013 Lung cancer Male 15,778 74.6 73.4 75.8
2013 Lung cancer Female 12,765 48.4 47.6 49.3
2013 Prostate cancer Male 9,491 50.0 48.9 51
2014 Breast cancer Female 9,566 34.8 34.1 35.5
2014 Colorectal cancer Male 7,049 33.4 32.6 34.2
2014 Colorectal cancer Female 5,905 21.1 20.5 21.6
2014 Lung cancer Male 15,855 73.2 72 74.3
2014 Lung cancer Female 12,992 48.5 47.7 49.3
2014 Prostate cancer Male 9,529 48.4 47.4 49.4
2015 Breast cancer Female 9,624 34.7 34 35.4
2015 Colorectal cancer Male 7,136 33.0 32.3 33.8
2015 Colorectal cancer Female 5,944 21.0 20.4 21.5
2015 Lung cancer Male 15,509 70.4 69.3 71.6
2015 Lung cancer Female 13,077 48.3 47.5 49.2
2015 Prostate cancer Male 10,017 50.0 49 51
2016 Breast cancer Female 9,684 34.5 33.8 35.2
2016 Colorectal cancer Male 7,268 32.9 32.2 33.7
2016 Colorectal cancer Female 6,066 21.2 20.7 21.8
2016 Lung cancer Male 15,614 69.4 68.3 70.5
2016 Lung cancer Female 12,950 47.3 46.5 48.1
2016 Prostate cancer Male 9,851 48.0 47 49
2017 Breast cancer Female 9,572 33.7 33 34.4
2017 Colorectal cancer Male 7,509 33.2 32.5 34
2017 Colorectal cancer Female 5,977 20.6 20.1 21.2
2017 Lung cancer Male 15,228 66.3 65.3 67.4
2017 Lung cancer Female 12,958 46.4 45.6 47.2
2017 Prostate cancer Male 10,147 48.4 47.4 49.3
2018 Breast cancer Female 9,631 33.4 32.8 34.1
2018 Colorectal cancer Male 7,393 32.1 31.4 32.9
2018 Colorectal cancer Female 6,089 20.7 20.2 21.2
2018 Lung cancer Male 15,020 64.2 63.2 65.2
2018 Lung cancer Female 12,661 44.8 44 45.6
2018 Prostate cancer Male 10,068 46.8 45.9 47.8
2019 Breast cancer Female 9,530 32.6 31.9 33.2
2019 Colorectal cancer Male 7,601 32.4 31.6 33.1
2019 Colorectal cancer Female 6,237 20.9 20.3 21.4
2019 Lung cancer Male 14,891 62.3 61.3 63.3
2019 Lung cancer Female 12,625 43.7 43 44.5
2019 Prostate cancer Male 10,263 46.3 45.4 47.2
2020 Breast cancer Female 9,638 32.6 32 33.3
2020 Colorectal cancer Male 7,722 32.4 31.6 33.1
2020 Colorectal cancer Female 6,311 21.0 20.5 21.5
2020 Lung cancer Male 14,349 59.2 58.2 60.2
2020 Lung cancer Female 12,586 43.3 42.5 44.1
2020 Prostate cancer Male 10,268 45.8 44.9 46.7
2021 Breast cancer Female 9,055 30.3 29.7 31
2021 Colorectal cancer Male 7,575 31.3 30.6 32
2021 Colorectal cancer Female 6,329 20.7 20.2 21.3
2021 Lung cancer Male 13,877 56.2 55.3 57.2
2021 Lung cancer Female 12,533 42.4 41.7 43.2
2021 Prostate cancer Male 9,768 43.0 42.1 43.8
2022 Breast cancer Female 9,368 30.8 30.2 31.5
2022 Colorectal cancer Male 7,811 31.6 30.9 32.3
2022 Colorectal cancer Female 6,479 20.8 20.3 21.4
2022 Lung cancer Male 13,908 55.3 54.3 56.2
2022 Lung cancer Female 12,812 42.5 41.8 43.2
2022 Prostate cancer Male 10,349 44.3 43.5 45.2
2023 Breast cancer Female 9,347 30.4 29.8 31.1
2023 Colorectal cancer Male 7,877 31.3 30.6 32
2023 Colorectal cancer Female 6,692 21.2 20.7 21.7
2023 Lung cancer Male 13,530 52.7 51.8 53.6
2023 Lung cancer Female 12,521 41.0 40.2 41.7
2023 Prostate cancer Male 10,427 43.7 42.9 44.6
2024 Breast cancer Female 9,234 29.6 29 30.3
2024 Colorectal cancer Male 7,967 31.0 30.3 31.7
2024 Colorectal cancer Female 6,558 20.5 20 21
2024 Lung cancer Male 13,468 51.6 50.7 52.5
2024 Lung cancer Female 12,556 40.2 39.5 40.9
2024 Prostate cancer Male 9,998 40.9 40.1 41.8

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

View age-standardised mortality rate definition in the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, based on Office for National Statistics data (2024 data is provisional)


Cardiovascular diseases

Unlike cancer, mortality rates for cardiovascular disease did not decrease during the pandemic.

The male mortality rate for cardiovascular disease increased significantly in 2020, and rates for the next 3 years remained significantly higher than 2019. A fall in 2024 returned the rate to a similar level to 2019. The female rate for cardiovascular disease did not increase significantly in 2020, however. Only the rate in 2022 was significantly higher than 2019 and by 2024 the rate was significantly lower than 2019 (Figure 8).

Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of deaths from cardiovascular disease and both have decreased substantially since 2001. Male and female mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease fell by 60% and 70% respectively, between 2001 and 2024, while rates from stroke fell by approximately 60% for both sexes.

Female mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease and rates for stroke for both sexes did not increase significantly during the pandemic. Rates for 2023 and 2024 were significantly lower than 2019.

The male ischaemic heart disease rate, however, increased each year from 2019 to 2022, before decreasing in 2023, and the 2024 rate was significantly lower than 2019.

There has been a decrease in mortality rates from ischaemic heart disease and stroke for both sexes, but the male rate for ischaemic heart disease increased between 2019 and 2022.

Figure 8: Age-standardised mortality rates for cardiovascular disease, England, 2001 to 2024
Year Cause Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Ischaemic heart disease Male 53,506 333.2 330.2 336.2
2001 Ischaemic heart disease Female 42,947 170.3 168.7 171.9
2001 Stroke Male 18,371 126.3 124.4 128.3
2001 Stroke Female 30,452 118.0 116.7 119.3
2002 Ischaemic heart disease Male 51,911 320.7 317.8 323.6
2002 Ischaemic heart disease Female 41,807 164.5 162.9 166.1
2002 Stroke Male 18,697 127.3 125.4 129.3
2002 Stroke Female 30,569 117.4 116.1 118.8
2003 Ischaemic heart disease Male 49,999 305.0 302.2 307.8
2003 Ischaemic heart disease Female 40,757 159.5 158 161.1
2003 Stroke Male 18,079 121.0 119.1 122.9
2003 Stroke Female 30,007 115.2 113.9 116.5
2004 Ischaemic heart disease Male 46,996 283.2 280.5 285.9
2004 Ischaemic heart disease Female 37,232 145.1 143.6 146.6
2004 Stroke Male 16,716 109.9 108.2 111.7
2004 Stroke Female 27,406 104.7 103.4 105.9
2005 Ischaemic heart disease Male 44,750 265.0 262.5 267.6
2005 Ischaemic heart disease Female 35,203 135.4 134 136.8
2005 Stroke Male 15,894 102.6 100.9 104.3
2005 Stroke Female 26,296 99.1 97.9 100.3
2006 Ischaemic heart disease Male 42,257 245.6 243.1 248
2006 Ischaemic heart disease Female 32,795 124.7 123.4 126.1
2006 Stroke Male 15,424 97.7 96.1 99.3
2006 Stroke Female 24,837 92.4 91.2 93.5
2007 Ischaemic heart disease Male 40,920 233.4 231 235.7
2007 Ischaemic heart disease Female 31,585 118.4 117.1 119.8
2007 Stroke Male 14,684 90.9 89.3 92.5
2007 Stroke Female 24,067 88.4 87.3 89.6
2008 Ischaemic heart disease Male 39,554 221.7 219.4 224
2008 Ischaemic heart disease Female 30,353 113.3 112 114.6
2008 Stroke Male 14,706 89.8 88.3 91.4
2008 Stroke Female 23,914 87.1 86 88.2
2009 Ischaemic heart disease Male 37,777 206.8 204.6 209
2009 Ischaemic heart disease Female 27,783 102.0 100.8 103.2
2009 Stroke Male 13,922 82.3 80.9 83.8
2009 Stroke Female 22,261 80.1 79 81.1
2010 Ischaemic heart disease Male 37,141 199.0 196.9 201.1
2010 Ischaemic heart disease Female 26,629 96.1 94.9 97.3
2010 Stroke Male 13,918 80.2 78.9 81.6
2010 Stroke Female 22,115 77.9 76.9 79
2011 Ischaemic heart disease Male 34,682 181.4 179.4 183.4
2011 Ischaemic heart disease Female 24,528 87.1 86 88.3
2011 Stroke Male 13,263 74.3 73 75.7
2011 Stroke Female 20,178 70.0 69.1 71
2012 Ischaemic heart disease Male 34,410 176.1 174.2 178
2012 Ischaemic heart disease Female 24,598 85.6 84.5 86.7
2012 Stroke Male 12,991 70.7 69.4 71.9
2012 Stroke Female 20,240 68.9 67.9 69.8
2013 Ischaemic heart disease Male 34,720 173.4 171.6 175.3
2013 Ischaemic heart disease Female 23,945 82.6 81.5 83.6
2013 Stroke Male 12,912 68.1 66.9 69.3
2013 Stroke Female 19,276 64.9 64 65.9
2014 Ischaemic heart disease Male 33,805 163.7 161.9 165.5
2014 Ischaemic heart disease Female 22,560 76.4 75.4 77.4
2014 Stroke Male 12,889 66.0 64.9 67.2
2014 Stroke Female 18,226 60.3 59.4 61.2
2015 Ischaemic heart disease Male 34,099 162.5 160.8 164.3
2015 Ischaemic heart disease Female 22,392 75.4 74.4 76.4
2015 Stroke Male 13,199 66.1 65 67.3
2015 Stroke Female 18,738 61.8 60.9 62.7
2016 Ischaemic heart disease Male 32,858 152.1 150.4 153.7
2016 Ischaemic heart disease Female 20,811 69.4 68.5 70.4
2016 Stroke Male 12,689 61.8 60.7 62.9
2016 Stroke Female 17,111 56.0 55.1 56.8
2017 Ischaemic heart disease Male 33,325 151.2 149.6 152.9
2017 Ischaemic heart disease Female 20,527 67.8 66.9 68.8
2017 Stroke Male 12,351 58.8 57.8 59.9
2017 Stroke Female 16,729 54.1 53.3 54.9
2018 Ischaemic heart disease Male 32,862 145.5 143.9 147.2
2018 Ischaemic heart disease Female 19,128 62.8 61.9 63.7
2018 Stroke Male 12,229 56.7 55.7 57.7
2018 Stroke Female 16,288 52.4 51.6 53.2
2019 Ischaemic heart disease Male 32,305 139.6 138.1 141.2
2019 Ischaemic heart disease Female 18,837 60.7 59.9 61.6
2019 Stroke Male 11,969 54.0 53 54.9
2019 Stroke Female 15,259 48.2 47.4 48.9
2020 Ischaemic heart disease Male 33,513 142.6 141 144.1
2020 Ischaemic heart disease Female 18,553 59.8 58.9 60.7
2020 Stroke Male 12,186 54.3 53.3 55.3
2020 Stroke Female 15,563 49.1 48.3 49.9
2021 Ischaemic heart disease Male 34,479 144.1 142.6 145.6
2021 Ischaemic heart disease Female 18,419 58.8 57.9 59.6
2021 Stroke Male 12,033 52.4 51.4 53.3
2021 Stroke Female 15,109 47.2 46.4 47.9
2022 Ischaemic heart disease Male 35,963 147.0 145.5 148.6
2022 Ischaemic heart disease Female 19,233 60.3 59.5 61.2
2022 Stroke Male 12,228 52.1 51.2 53.1
2022 Stroke Female 15,239 46.8 46 47.5
2023 Ischaemic heart disease Male 35,668 143.0 141.5 144.5
2023 Ischaemic heart disease Female 18,202 56.5 55.7 57.4
2023 Stroke Male 12,458 52.0 51 52.9
2023 Stroke Female 15,143 46.0 45.2 46.7
2024 Ischaemic heart disease Male 33,684 132.0 130.5 133.4
2024 Ischaemic heart disease Female 16,766 51.3 50.6 52.1
2024 Stroke Male 12,437 50.4 49.5 51.3
2024 Stroke Female 14,908 44.6 43.9 45.3

Data source 2001 to 2023: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Data source 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) provisional data as at 15 April 2025

View age-standardised mortality rate definition in the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, based on Office for National Statistics data (2024 data is provisional)


Mortality rates for behavioural risk factors, and suicide rates

Alcohol-specific mortality rates have increased for both sexes since 2001, and there has been a more marked increase since 2019 during the pandemic and beyond (Figure 9). The upward trend in total alcohol-specific deaths was brought about by an increase in deaths from alcoholic liver disease, which account for around 80% of total alcohol-specific deaths. Alcohol-related cirrhosis can take a decade or more to develop, but most alcoholic liver disease deaths occur as a result of ‘acute-on-chronic’ liver failure due to recent alcohol intake. This is an acute deterioration in liver function in an individual who already has chronic liver disease and is strongly linked to heavy drinking. Heavy drinking increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained high. Liver disease mortality rates respond rapidly to changes in population-level alcohol consumption and particularly to changes in the drinking patterns of heavy drinkers.

Drug misuse mortality rates have increased for both sexes since 2001, and between 2012 and 2023 have approximately doubled (Figure 9). While mortality rates increased during the pandemic (rates for both sexes were significantly higher in 2023 than in 2019), this is part of a longer-term upward trend.

The increase in drug misuse deaths is primarily being caused by a rise in deaths involving heroin and cocaine (separately or together). There is a cohort of heroin users born in the 1970s who now have significant physical health issues as a consequence of their long-term drug use. Alongside this, the harms associated with cocaine powder and crack cocaine have increased over the last decade due to the increased availability, purity and use of the drug.

There was concern that suicide rates might go up during the pandemic, but rates for both sexes in the years 2020 to 2023 were statistically similar to 2019. However, these data are based on the year deaths were registered in. Suicides are only registered following a coroner’s inquest, and the pandemic affected the function of coroners’ courts, leading to longer delays in death registration. Suicide rates have fluctuated for both sexes between 2001 and 2023, but rates at the start and end of that period were statistically similar (Figure 9).

Smoking attributable mortality is not included in the chart and estimates for the years during the COVID-19 pandemic are not currently available. However, there was a downward trend in smoking attributable mortality between 2013 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019. By 2019, 15% of all deaths in those aged 35 and over were estimated to be attributable to smoking (down from 18% in 2009).

Drug-misuse and alcohol-specific mortality rates have increased in recent years. Suicide rates in 2001 and 2023 were similar.

Figure 9: Age-standardised mortality rates for suicide and risk factors, England, 2001 to 2023
Year Cause Sex Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Alcohol-specific Male 2,698 12.3 11.9 12.8
2001 Alcohol-specific Female 1,305 5.6 5.3 5.9
2001 Drug misuse Male 1,382 5.3 5 5.6
2001 Drug misuse Female 353 1.4 1.2 1.5
2001 Suicide Male 3,424 16.5 15.9 17
2001 Suicide Female 1,133 5.1 4.8 5.4
2002 Alcohol-specific Male 2,784 12.7 12.2 13.2
2002 Alcohol-specific Female 1,331 5.7 5.4 6
2002 Drug misuse Male 1,214 4.6 4.4 4.9
2002 Drug misuse Female 344 1.3 1.2 1.5
2002 Suicide Male 3,296 15.6 15 16.1
2002 Suicide Female 1,140 5.1 4.8 5.4
2003 Alcohol-specific Male 3,050 13.7 13.2 14.1
2003 Alcohol-specific Female 1,374 5.8 5.5 6.1
2003 Drug misuse Male 1,042 4.0 3.7 4.2
2003 Drug misuse Female 316 1.2 1.1 1.4
2003 Suicide Male 3,298 15.6 15.1 16.2
2003 Suicide Female 1,132 5.1 4.8 5.4
2004 Alcohol-specific Male 3,008 13.4 13 13.9
2004 Alcohol-specific Female 1,508 6.4 6 6.7
2004 Drug misuse Male 1,150 4.4 4.2 4.7
2004 Drug misuse Female 329 1.3 1.1 1.4
2004 Suicide Male 3,297 15.6 15 16.1
2004 Suicide Female 1,216 5.4 5.1 5.7
2005 Alcohol-specific Male 3,224 14.3 13.8 14.8
2005 Alcohol-specific Female 1,493 6.2 5.9 6.5
2005 Drug misuse Male 1,215 4.6 4.4 4.9
2005 Drug misuse Female 352 1.4 1.2 1.5
2005 Suicide Male 3,252 15.2 14.7 15.8
2005 Suicide Female 1,158 5.1 4.8 5.4
2006 Alcohol-specific Male 3,341 14.6 14.1 15.1
2006 Alcohol-specific Female 1,620 6.7 6.4 7
2006 Drug misuse Male 1,188 4.5 4.3 4.8
2006 Drug misuse Female 335 1.3 1.1 1.4
2006 Suicide Male 3,133 14.5 14 15
2006 Suicide Female 1,045 4.6 4.3 4.9
2007 Alcohol-specific Male 3,365 14.5 14 15
2007 Alcohol-specific Female 1,688 6.9 6.6 7.2
2007 Drug misuse Male 1,322 5.0 4.7 5.3
2007 Drug misuse Female 346 1.3 1.2 1.5
2007 Suicide Male 3,048 13.9 13.4 14.4
2007 Suicide Female 951 4.2 3.9 4.4
2008 Alcohol-specific Male 3,633 15.5 15 16
2008 Alcohol-specific Female 1,712 7.0 6.6 7.3
2008 Drug misuse Male 1,430 5.4 5.1 5.7
2008 Drug misuse Female 432 1.6 1.5 1.8
2008 Suicide Male 3,265 14.7 14.2 15.2
2008 Suicide Female 1,023 4.4 4.2 4.7
2009 Alcohol-specific Male 3,418 14.3 13.8 14.8
2009 Alcohol-specific Female 1,665 6.7 6.3 7
2009 Drug misuse Male 1,445 5.4 5.2 5.7
2009 Drug misuse Female 381 1.4 1.3 1.6
2009 Suicide Male 3,331 14.9 14.4 15.4
2009 Suicide Female 1,061 4.5 4.3 4.8
2010 Alcohol-specific Male 3,562 14.8 14.3 15.3
2010 Alcohol-specific Female 1,661 6.6 6.3 6.9
2010 Drug misuse Male 1,316 5.0 4.7 5.3
2010 Drug misuse Female 418 1.6 1.4 1.7
2010 Suicide Male 3,166 14.2 13.7 14.7
2010 Suicide Female 1,036 4.4 4.2 4.7
2011 Alcohol-specific Male 3,666 15.1 14.6 15.6
2011 Alcohol-specific Female 1,770 7.0 6.6 7.3
2011 Drug misuse Male 1,148 4.4 4.1 4.6
2011 Drug misuse Female 434 1.6 1.5 1.8
2011 Suicide Male 3,420 15.1 14.6 15.6
2011 Suicide Female 1,098 4.6 4.4 4.9
2012 Alcohol-specific Male 3,344 13.7 13.2 14.1
2012 Alcohol-specific Female 1,699 6.6 6.3 6.9
2012 Drug misuse Male 1,069 4.0 3.8 4.3
2012 Drug misuse Female 423 1.6 1.4 1.7
2012 Suicide Male 3,488 15.2 14.7 15.7
2012 Suicide Female 1,025 4.3 4 4.5
2013 Alcohol-specific Male 3,485 14.1 13.6 14.5
2013 Alcohol-specific Female 1,699 6.6 6.2 6.9
2013 Drug misuse Male 1,331 5.0 4.7 5.3
2013 Drug misuse Female 481 1.8 1.6 2
2013 Suicide Male 3,688 16.1 15.6 16.6
2013 Suicide Female 1,039 4.3 4.1 4.6
2014 Alcohol-specific Male 3,583 14.3 13.9 14.8
2014 Alcohol-specific Female 1,803 6.9 6.6 7.2
2014 Drug misuse Male 1,530 5.8 5.5 6
2014 Drug misuse Female 590 2.2 2 2.3
2014 Suicide Male 3,701 15.9 15.4 16.5
2014 Suicide Female 1,181 4.9 4.6 5.1
2015 Alcohol-specific Male 3,510 13.9 13.5 14.4
2015 Alcohol-specific Female 1,796 6.8 6.5 7.1
2015 Drug misuse Male 1,700 6.4 6.1 6.7
2015 Drug misuse Female 600 2.2 2 2.4
2015 Suicide Male 3,600 15.4 14.9 16
2015 Suicide Female 1,220 5.0 4.7 5.3
2016 Alcohol-specific Male 3,687 14.4 14 14.9
2016 Alcohol-specific Female 1,820 6.8 6.5 7.1
2016 Drug misuse Male 1,737 6.5 6.2 6.8
2016 Drug misuse Female 649 2.4 2.2 2.5
2016 Suicide Male 3,464 14.7 14.2 15.2
2016 Suicide Female 1,111 4.5 4.2 4.7
2017 Alcohol-specific Male 3,853 15.0 14.5 15.5
2017 Alcohol-specific Female 1,990 7.4 7 7.7
2017 Drug misuse Male 1,652 6.2 5.9 6.5
2017 Drug misuse Female 658 2.4 2.2 2.6
2017 Suicide Male 3,328 14.0 13.6 14.5
2017 Suicide Female 1,123 4.5 4.2 4.8
2018 Alcohol-specific Male 3,830 14.8 14.3 15.2
2018 Alcohol-specific Female 1,868 6.9 6.6 7.2
2018 Drug misuse Male 1,939 7.2 6.9 7.5
2018 Drug misuse Female 731 2.6 2.4 2.8
2018 Suicide Male 3,800 16.0 15.5 16.5
2018 Suicide Female 1,221 4.9 4.6 5.1
2019 Alcohol-specific Male 3,904 15.0 14.5 15.4
2019 Alcohol-specific Female 1,916 7.0 6.7 7.3
2019 Drug misuse Male 1,937 7.2 6.9 7.5
2019 Drug misuse Female 748 2.7 2.5 2.9
2019 Suicide Male 4,017 16.7 16.2 17.2
2019 Suicide Female 1,299 5.1 4.9 5.4
2020 Alcohol-specific Male 4,594 17.5 17 18
2020 Alcohol-specific Female 2,390 8.6 8.3 9
2020 Drug misuse Male 2,036 7.6 7.3 7.9
2020 Drug misuse Female 794 2.8 2.6 3
2020 Suicide Male 3,682 15.4 14.9 15.9
2020 Suicide Female 1,230 4.8 4.6 5.1
2021 Alcohol-specific Male 4,949 18.7 18.2 19.2
2021 Alcohol-specific Female 2,609 9.3 9 9.7
2021 Drug misuse Male 2,050 7.7 7.3 8
2021 Drug misuse Female 796 2.8 2.6 3
2021 Suicide Male 3,852 16.0 15.5 16.5
2021 Suicide Female 1,367 5.4 5.1 5.7
2022 Alcohol-specific Male 5,184 19.5 19 20
2022 Alcohol-specific Female 2,728 9.7 9.3 10.1
2022 Drug misuse Male 2,020 7.5 7.2 7.8
2022 Drug misuse Female 886 3.1 2.9 3.4
2022 Suicide Male 3,909 16.1 15.6 16.6
2022 Suicide Female 1,375 5.3 5 5.6
2023 Alcohol-specific Male 5,520 20.6 20 21.1
2023 Alcohol-specific Female 2,756 9.7 9.4 10.1
2023 Drug misuse Male 2,387 8.8 8.4 9.1
2023 Drug misuse Female 966 3.4 3.2 3.6
2023 Suicide Male 4,188 17.1 16.6 17.6
2023 Suicide Female 1,468 5.6 5.4 5.9

Source: Office for National Statistics


Infant mortality 

The infant mortality rate is the number of all deaths under 1 year of age, for every 1,000 live births. The rate in England decreased between 2001 to 2003 and 2013 to 2015, but since then there has been no further improvement (Figure 10). The rate increased for the first time since 2013 to 2015 in 2021 to 2023. It was 3.9 deaths per 1,000 live births for 8 consecutive time periods, but increased to 4.1 per 1,000 in 2021 to 2023, though this change was not statistically significant.

There has been no improvement in the infant mortality rate in England since 2013 to 2015.

Figure 10: Infant mortality rate, England, 2001 to 2003 to 2021 to 2023
Year Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 - 03 9210 5.4 5.2 5.5
2002 - 04 9215 5.2 5.1 5.3
2003 - 05 9291 5.1 5.0 5.2
2004 - 06 9338 5.0 4.9 5.1
2005 - 07 9397 4.9 4.8 5.0
2006 - 08 9503 4.8 4.7 4.9
2007 - 09 9421 4.7 4.6 4.8
2008 - 10 9260 4.6 4.5 4.7
2009 - 11 9062 4.4 4.3 4.5
2010 - 12 8822 4.3 4.2 4.4
2011 - 13 8467 4.1 4.0 4.2
2012 - 14 8029 4.0 3.9 4.1
2013 - 15 7734 3.9 3.8 4.0
2014 - 16 7710 3.9 3.8 4.0
2015 - 17 7734 3.9 3.8 4.0
2016 - 18 7608 3.9 3.8 4.0
2017 - 19 7434 3.9 3.9 4.0
2018 - 20 7111 3.9 3.8 4.0
2019 - 21 7036 3.9 3.8 4.0
2020 - 22 6918 3.9 3.8 4.0
2021 - 23 7050 4.1 4.0 4.2
Rates are crude rates per 1,000 live births

Data source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data published in Fingertips View the Fingertips Mortality Profile

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities using Office for National Statistics data


Age groups

For all age groups, for both sexes, the provisional age-specific mortality rate for 2024 was lower than the rate in 2001, but the rate of decline and trend between these two years differs by age group (Figure 11).

For all age groups over 40, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant increase in age-specific mortality rates between 2019 and 2020. Age-specific rates have since fallen but by 2024 not all age groups had returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, age-specific mortality rates for those aged 90 and over, 50 to 59, and men aged 40 to 49 and 70 to 79, remained significantly higher than 2019.

Among younger age groups, the rate for boys aged 1 to 9 was significantly higher in 2024 than 2019.

Trends in age-specific mortality rates since 2001 have differed by age group.

Figure 11: Age-specific mortality rates, England, 2001 to 2024




Year Sex Age Deaths Rate Lower95CL Upper95CL
2001 Female 1 to 9 439 16.4 14.9 18.0
2001 Female 10 to 19 518 16.9 15.5 18.4
2001 Female 20 to 29 1,017 32.3 30.3 34.3
2001 Female 30 to 39 2,489 63.8 61.3 66.3
2001 Female 40 to 49 5,136 154.3 150.1 158.5
2001 Female 50 to 59 12,197 390.2 383.3 397.1
2001 Female 60 to 69 23,708 1,012.8 999.9 1,025.8
2001 Female 70 to 79 60,723 3,006.1 2,982.3 3,030.1
2001 Female 80 to 89 98,260 8,556.3 8,502.8 8,609.9
2001 Female 90 plus 55,017 22,206.6 22,021.4 22,392.9
2001 Male 1 to 9 494 17.6 16.1 19.2
2001 Male 10 to 19 1,159 36.0 34.0 38.2
2001 Male 20 to 29 2,631 83.4 80.2 86.6
2001 Male 30 to 39 4,586 118.6 115.2 122.1
2001 Male 40 to 49 7,926 241.1 235.8 246.4
2001 Male 50 to 59 18,546 603.8 595.2 612.6
2001 Male 60 to 69 36,674 1,656.0 1,639.1 1,673.0
2001 Male 70 to 79 74,159 4,700.6 4,666.8 4,734.5
2001 Male 80 to 89 70,632 11,601.2 11,515.8 11,687.1
2001 Male 90 plus 18,504 25,412.0 25,047.2 25,780.8
2002 Female 1 to 9 372 14.1 12.7 15.6
2002 Female 10 to 19 555 17.9 16.4 19.4
2002 Female 20 to 29 985 31.5 29.5 33.5
2002 Female 30 to 39 2,376 60.9 58.5 63.4
2002 Female 40 to 49 5,283 155.6 151.4 159.8
2002 Female 50 to 59 12,084 381.0 374.2 387.9
2002 Female 60 to 69 23,228 989.1 976.4 1,001.9
2002 Female 70 to 79 59,418 2,977.1 2,953.2 3,001.2
2002 Female 80 to 89 99,730 8,530.0 8,477.1 8,583.1
2002 Female 90 plus 57,515 22,647.5 22,462.8 22,833.4
2002 Male 1 to 9 491 17.7 16.2 19.3
2002 Male 10 to 19 1,117 34.3 32.3 36.3
2002 Male 20 to 29 2,647 84.4 81.2 87.7
2002 Male 30 to 39 4,532 117.4 114.0 120.9
2002 Male 40 to 49 8,078 240.9 235.7 246.2
2002 Male 50 to 59 18,460 593.5 585.0 602.1
2002 Male 60 to 69 36,224 1,629.1 1,612.4 1,646.0
2002 Male 70 to 79 72,376 4,581.9 4,548.5 4,615.4
2002 Male 80 to 89 72,640 11,500.1 11,416.7 11,584.1
2002 Male 90 plus 19,679 25,685.6 25,327.9 26,047.0
2003 Female 1 to 9 408 15.6 14.1 17.1
2003 Female 10 to 19 541 17.2 15.8 18.7
2003 Female 20 to 29 1,017 32.5 30.5 34.5
2003 Female 30 to 39 2,399 62.0 59.6 64.6
2003 Female 40 to 49 5,335 153.6 149.6 157.8
2003 Female 50 to 59 12,253 384.8 378.0 391.7
2003 Female 60 to 69 23,227 973.1 960.6 985.7
2003 Female 70 to 79 57,925 2,928.8 2,905.0 2,952.7
2003 Female 80 to 89 101,716 8,636.8 8,583.8 8,690.1
2003 Female 90 plus 60,257 23,223.7 23,038.7 23,409.9
2003 Male 1 to 9 477 17.3 15.8 19.0
2003 Male 10 to 19 1,027 31.2 29.4 33.2
2003 Male 20 to 29 2,489 79.3 76.2 82.5
2003 Male 30 to 39 4,469 116.6 113.2 120.1
2003 Male 40 to 49 8,114 236.7 231.5 241.9
2003 Male 50 to 59 18,722 599.4 590.8 608.0
2003 Male 60 to 69 35,976 1,592.2 1,575.8 1,608.8
2003 Male 70 to 79 69,928 4,416.7 4,384.0 4,449.5
2003 Male 80 to 89 73,881 11,397.5 11,315.5 11,480.0
2003 Male 90 plus 20,821 25,976.9 25,625.2 26,332.2
2004 Female 1 to 9 362 13.9 12.5 15.4
2004 Female 10 to 19 539 17.1 15.6 18.6
2004 Female 20 to 29 1,012 31.9 30.0 33.9
2004 Female 30 to 39 2,361 62.0 59.5 64.5
2004 Female 40 to 49 5,190 146.2 142.2 150.2
2004 Female 50 to 59 11,810 370.2 363.6 377.0
2004 Female 60 to 69 22,748 933.5 921.4 945.7
2004 Female 70 to 79 53,947 2,750.1 2,727.0 2,773.5
2004 Female 80 to 89 94,781 8,017.1 7,966.2 8,068.3
2004 Female 90 plus 57,499 21,801.9 21,624.0 21,980.8
2004 Male 1 to 9 449 16.4 14.9 18.0
2004 Male 10 to 19 1,001 30.4 28.5 32.3
2004 Male 20 to 29 2,449 76.8 73.8 79.9
2004 Male 30 to 39 4,315 114.3 110.9 117.8
2004 Male 40 to 49 7,955 227.0 222.1 232.1
2004 Male 50 to 59 17,851 571.1 562.8 579.6
2004 Male 60 to 69 34,926 1,513.3 1,497.5 1,529.2
2004 Male 70 to 79 66,442 4,183.5 4,151.7 4,215.4
2004 Male 80 to 89 71,488 10,786.8 10,707.8 10,866.1
2004 Male 90 plus 20,524 24,439.4 24,106.2 24,776.1
2005 Female 1 to 9 333 12.8 11.5 14.3
2005 Female 10 to 19 522 16.5 15.1 17.9
2005 Female 20 to 29 997 30.5 28.6 32.4
2005 Female 30 to 39 2,217 59.0 56.6 61.6
2005 Female 40 to 49 5,284 145.2 141.3 149.1
2005 Female 50 to 59 11,878 372.1 365.5 378.9
2005 Female 60 to 69 22,665 912.9 901.1 924.9
2005 Female 70 to 79 52,326 2,675.4 2,652.5 2,698.4
2005 Female 80 to 89 94,830 7,985.6 7,934.8 8,036.6
2005 Female 90 plus 59,366 22,158.4 21,980.5 22,337.4
2005 Male 1 to 9 433 15.9 14.4 17.4
2005 Male 10 to 19 1,034 31.4 29.5 33.4
2005 Male 20 to 29 2,308 70.5 67.7 73.5
2005 Male 30 to 39 4,215 113.0 109.7 116.5
2005 Male 40 to 49 8,208 228.3 223.4 233.3
2005 Male 50 to 59 17,579 561.2 553.0 569.6
2005 Male 60 to 69 34,257 1,454.3 1,438.9 1,469.8
2005 Male 70 to 79 64,502 4,026.2 3,995.2 4,057.4
2005 Male 80 to 89 71,995 10,608.6 10,531.3 10,686.4
2005 Male 90 plus 21,651 24,734.1 24,405.7 25,065.8
2006 Female 1 to 9 373 14.3 12.9 15.9
2006 Female 10 to 19 510 16.1 14.7 17.6
2006 Female 20 to 29 960 28.6 26.8 30.5
2006 Female 30 to 39 2,134 57.7 55.3 60.2
2006 Female 40 to 49 5,304 142.8 139.0 146.7
2006 Female 50 to 59 11,654 364.0 357.5 370.7
2006 Female 60 to 69 22,243 880.8 869.3 892.4
2006 Female 70 to 79 50,307 2,575.4 2,553.0 2,598.0
2006 Female 80 to 89 92,358 7,696.5 7,646.9 7,746.3
2006 Female 90 plus 57,739 21,523.4 21,348.2 21,699.7
2006 Male 1 to 9 447 16.4 14.9 18.0
2006 Male 10 to 19 1,015 30.7 28.9 32.7
2006 Male 20 to 29 2,349 70.2 67.4 73.1
2006 Male 30 to 39 4,119 112.4 109.0 115.9
2006 Male 40 to 49 8,127 221.4 216.6 226.3
2006 Male 50 to 59 17,718 564.6 556.3 573.0
2006 Male 60 to 69 33,819 1,407.9 1,393.0 1,423.0
2006 Male 70 to 79 62,071 3,833.8 3,803.7 3,864.0
2006 Male 80 to 89 72,113 10,304.1 10,229.1 10,379.6
2006 Male 90 plus 21,774 24,488.3 24,164.1 24,815.7
2007 Female 1 to 9 330 12.6 11.3 14.1
2007 Female 10 to 19 497 15.6 14.3 17.1
2007 Female 20 to 29 930 27.0 25.3 28.8
2007 Female 30 to 39 2,075 57.3 54.8 59.8
2007 Female 40 to 49 5,356 141.4 137.7 145.3
2007 Female 50 to 59 11,222 356.5 350.0 363.2
2007 Female 60 to 69 22,610 856.0 844.9 867.2
2007 Female 70 to 79 48,974 2,500.0 2,477.9 2,522.2
2007 Female 80 to 89 94,101 7,749.1 7,699.7 7,798.8
2007 Female 90 plus 58,694 21,947.7 21,770.5 22,126.0
2007 Male 1 to 9 490 17.9 16.4 19.6
2007 Male 10 to 19 936 28.2 26.4 30.0
2007 Male 20 to 29 2,387 69.4 66.7 72.3
2007 Male 30 to 39 4,021 111.7 108.3 115.2
2007 Male 40 to 49 7,993 214.3 209.6 219.1
2007 Male 50 to 59 16,960 550.3 542.1 558.7
2007 Male 60 to 69 34,027 1,354.0 1,339.7 1,368.5
2007 Male 70 to 79 60,397 3,678.4 3,649.2 3,707.9
2007 Male 80 to 89 73,451 10,174.6 10,101.2 10,248.5
2007 Male 90 plus 22,143 24,562.9 24,240.5 24,888.6
2008 Female 1 to 9 379 14.4 13.0 15.9
2008 Female 10 to 19 447 14.1 12.8 15.4
2008 Female 20 to 29 969 27.6 25.9 29.4
2008 Female 30 to 39 2,129 59.6 57.1 62.1
2008 Female 40 to 49 5,434 141.8 138.1 145.6
2008 Female 50 to 59 11,097 354.5 347.9 361.2
2008 Female 60 to 69 22,879 836.9 826.1 847.8
2008 Female 70 to 79 48,519 2,458.6 2,436.8 2,480.6
2008 Female 80 to 89 96,563 7,839.6 7,790.2 7,889.2
2008 Female 90 plus 59,151 22,849.1 22,665.3 23,034.0
2008 Male 1 to 9 427 15.5 14.1 17.0
2008 Male 10 to 19 908 27.4 25.6 29.2
2008 Male 20 to 29 2,432 69.2 66.5 72.0
2008 Male 30 to 39 4,069 114.5 111.0 118.0
2008 Male 40 to 49 8,377 221.9 217.2 226.7
2008 Male 50 to 59 16,375 532.9 524.8 541.2
2008 Male 60 to 69 34,094 1,309.7 1,295.8 1,323.7
2008 Male 70 to 79 60,300 3,609.1 3,580.3 3,638.0
2008 Male 80 to 89 75,608 10,150.9 10,078.6 10,223.5
2008 Male 90 plus 22,422 25,343.6 25,013.0 25,677.5
2009 Female 1 to 9 350 13.1 11.8 14.6
2009 Female 10 to 19 459 14.5 13.2 15.9
2009 Female 20 to 29 965 27.2 25.5 29.0
2009 Female 30 to 39 1,997 56.3 53.9 58.9
2009 Female 40 to 49 5,318 137.2 133.5 140.9
2009 Female 50 to 59 10,719 340.5 334.1 347.0
2009 Female 60 to 69 22,322 796.9 786.5 807.4
2009 Female 70 to 79 45,761 2,303.8 2,282.8 2,325.0
2009 Female 80 to 89 92,828 7,502.9 7,454.7 7,551.3
2009 Female 90 plus 54,774 20,658.6 20,485.9 20,832.3
2009 Male 1 to 9 367 13.1 11.8 14.6
2009 Male 10 to 19 892 26.9 25.2 28.7
2009 Male 20 to 29 2,308 65.6 62.9 68.3
2009 Male 30 to 39 3,907 110.6 107.1 114.1
2009 Male 40 to 49 8,398 219.9 215.3 224.7
2009 Male 50 to 59 16,092 520.3 512.3 528.4
2009 Male 60 to 69 33,363 1,249.1 1,235.8 1,262.6
2009 Male 70 to 79 58,071 3,422.4 3,394.6 3,450.3
2009 Male 80 to 89 75,403 9,913.9 9,843.3 9,984.9
2009 Male 90 plus 21,837 22,991.4 22,687.5 23,298.4
2010 Female 1 to 9 343 12.7 11.4 14.1
2010 Female 10 to 19 454 14.4 13.1 15.8
2010 Female 20 to 29 888 24.9 23.2 26.5
2010 Female 30 to 39 2,009 56.7 54.2 59.2
2010 Female 40 to 49 5,248 134.5 130.8 138.1
2010 Female 50 to 59 10,773 338.7 332.3 345.1
2010 Female 60 to 69 22,439 784.2 774.0 794.5
2010 Female 70 to 79 45,038 2,259.0 2,238.2 2,280.0
2010 Female 80 to 89 91,528 7,372.4 7,324.7 7,420.3
2010 Female 90 plus 58,589 20,720.5 20,553.0 20,888.9
2010 Male 1 to 9 404 14.2 12.9 15.7
2010 Male 10 to 19 713 21.6 20.0 23.2
2010 Male 20 to 29 2,139 60.0 57.5 62.6
2010 Male 30 to 39 3,628 102.9 99.5 106.3
2010 Male 40 to 49 8,206 213.8 209.2 218.5
2010 Male 50 to 59 15,788 504.8 496.9 512.7
2010 Male 60 to 69 33,825 1,237.8 1,224.6 1,251.0
2010 Male 70 to 79 57,538 3,347.3 3,320.0 3,374.7
2010 Male 80 to 89 74,852 9,588.6 9,520.1 9,657.6
2010 Male 90 plus 23,649 22,847.3 22,557.0 23,140.4
2011 Female 1 to 9 306 11.1 9.9 12.4
2011 Female 10 to 19 353 11.3 10.2 12.6
2011 Female 20 to 29 930 25.7 24.1 27.5
2011 Female 30 to 39 1,904 53.9 51.5 56.4
2011 Female 40 to 49 5,178 131.9 128.3 135.5
2011 Female 50 to 59 10,428 321.6 315.5 327.9
2011 Female 60 to 69 22,764 778.2 768.1 788.4
2011 Female 70 to 79 43,366 2,181.2 2,160.7 2,201.8
2011 Female 80 to 89 87,346 7,030.1 6,983.6 7,076.9
2011 Female 90 plus 59,977 19,819.8 19,661.5 19,979.1
2011 Male 1 to 9 405 14.0 12.7 15.5
2011 Male 10 to 19 650 19.9 18.4 21.5
2011 Male 20 to 29 1,956 53.7 51.4 56.1
2011 Male 30 to 39 3,385 96.1 92.9 99.4
2011 Male 40 to 49 7,932 206.1 201.6 210.7
2011 Male 50 to 59 15,503 486.9 479.3 494.7
2011 Male 60 to 69 33,143 1,186.0 1,173.2 1,198.8
2011 Male 70 to 79 55,630 3,225.5 3,198.7 3,252.4
2011 Male 80 to 89 73,297 9,135.9 9,069.9 9,202.3
2011 Male 90 plus 25,423 22,739.1 22,460.4 23,020.4
2012 Female 1 to 9 308 10.9 9.7 12.2
2012 Female 10 to 19 347 11.3 10.2 12.6
2012 Female 20 to 29 818 22.5 21.0 24.1
2012 Female 30 to 39 1,805 51.0 48.6 53.4
2012 Female 40 to 49 5,030 127.9 124.4 131.5
2012 Female 50 to 59 10,631 320.2 314.1 326.3
2012 Female 60 to 69 23,031 776.1 766.1 786.2
2012 Female 70 to 79 43,688 2,179.0 2,158.6 2,199.5
2012 Female 80 to 89 89,793 7,215.2 7,168.1 7,262.6
2012 Female 90 plus 65,629 20,737.6 20,579.3 20,896.9
2012 Male 1 to 9 393 13.3 12.0 14.7
2012 Male 10 to 19 685 21.3 19.7 22.9
2012 Male 20 to 29 1,852 51.0 48.7 53.4
2012 Male 30 to 39 3,105 88.3 85.2 91.5
2012 Male 40 to 49 7,766 201.6 197.1 206.1
2012 Male 50 to 59 15,036 461.1 453.8 468.6
2012 Male 60 to 69 33,491 1,181.9 1,169.3 1,194.6
2012 Male 70 to 79 55,877 3,196.5 3,170.1 3,223.1
2012 Male 80 to 89 76,060 9,252.4 9,186.8 9,318.4
2012 Male 90 plus 28,564 23,603.9 23,330.9 23,879.2
2013 Female 1 to 9 328 11.4 10.2 12.7
2013 Female 10 to 19 342 11.2 10.1 12.5
2013 Female 20 to 29 877 24.0 22.4 25.6
2013 Female 30 to 39 1,878 52.6 50.2 55.0
2013 Female 40 to 49 5,021 128.1 124.6 131.7
2013 Female 50 to 59 10,564 310.4 304.5 316.4
2013 Female 60 to 69 23,068 770.9 761.0 781.0
2013 Female 70 to 79 43,964 2,147.3 2,127.3 2,167.5
2013 Female 80 to 89 89,388 7,191.1 7,144.1 7,238.4
2013 Female 90 plus 67,723 21,013.3 20,855.4 21,172.2
2013 Male 1 to 9 382 12.6 11.4 14.0
2013 Male 10 to 19 646 20.2 18.7 21.9
2013 Male 20 to 29 1,875 51.7 49.4 54.1
2013 Male 30 to 39 3,344 94.8 91.6 98.1
2013 Male 40 to 49 7,873 205.2 200.6 209.7
2013 Male 50 to 59 15,490 464.0 456.8 471.4
2013 Male 60 to 69 33,820 1,183.8 1,171.2 1,196.5
2013 Male 70 to 79 56,558 3,151.5 3,125.6 3,177.6
2013 Male 80 to 89 77,607 9,266.4 9,201.3 9,331.8
2013 Male 90 plus 30,193 23,826.9 23,558.9 24,097.2
2014 Female 1 to 9 311 10.6 9.5 11.9
2014 Female 10 to 19 389 12.9 11.6 14.2
2014 Female 20 to 29 908 24.6 23.0 26.3
2014 Female 30 to 39 1,963 54.3 51.9 56.8
2014 Female 40 to 49 5,085 131.0 127.4 134.6
2014 Female 50 to 59 10,527 301.4 295.7 307.2
2014 Female 60 to 69 22,877 760.9 751.1 770.8
2014 Female 70 to 79 43,992 2,089.5 2,070.0 2,109.1
2014 Female 80 to 89 86,080 6,884.6 6,838.7 6,930.8
2014 Female 90 plus 66,450 19,923.4 19,772.2 20,075.5
2014 Male 1 to 9 407 13.2 12.0 14.6
2014 Male 10 to 19 664 20.9 19.4 22.6
2014 Male 20 to 29 2,005 55.1 52.7 57.5
2014 Male 30 to 39 3,326 93.6 90.4 96.8
2014 Male 40 to 49 7,843 206.3 201.7 210.9
2014 Male 50 to 59 15,677 458.0 450.8 465.2
2014 Male 60 to 69 33,602 1,171.9 1,159.4 1,184.5
2014 Male 70 to 79 56,642 3,051.3 3,026.2 3,076.5
2014 Male 80 to 89 76,866 8,956.3 8,893.1 9,019.8
2014 Male 90 plus 30,713 22,836.8 22,582.1 23,093.7
2015 Female 1 to 9 313 10.6 9.5 11.8
2015 Female 10 to 19 394 13.0 11.8 14.4
2015 Female 20 to 29 867 23.4 21.9 25.0
2015 Female 30 to 39 1,940 52.8 50.5 55.2
2015 Female 40 to 49 5,001 130.3 126.7 134.0
2015 Female 50 to 59 10,936 304.6 299.0 310.4
2015 Female 60 to 69 23,439 776.3 766.4 786.3
2015 Female 70 to 79 45,641 2,120.9 2,101.5 2,140.5
2015 Female 80 to 89 92,072 7,339.1 7,291.7 7,386.6
2015 Female 90 plus 73,204 22,012.3 21,853.2 22,172.4
2015 Male 1 to 9 381 12.3 11.1 13.6
2015 Male 10 to 19 646 20.3 18.8 21.9
2015 Male 20 to 29 1,974 54.1 51.8 56.6
2015 Male 30 to 39 3,327 92.5 89.3 95.7
2015 Male 40 to 49 7,749 206.0 201.5 210.7
2015 Male 50 to 59 16,191 460.7 453.6 467.8
2015 Male 60 to 69 34,171 1,187.4 1,174.9 1,200.1
2015 Male 70 to 79 58,754 3,084.6 3,059.7 3,109.7
2015 Male 80 to 89 81,472 9,295.3 9,231.6 9,359.3
2015 Male 90 plus 34,262 24,716.7 24,455.6 24,979.8
2016 Female 1 to 9 293 9.9 8.8 11.1
2016 Female 10 to 19 356 11.7 10.5 13.0
2016 Female 20 to 29 900 24.1 22.6 25.7
2016 Female 30 to 39 1,994 53.3 50.9 55.6
2016 Female 40 to 49 5,026 132.6 129.0 136.3
2016 Female 50 to 59 11,587 315.1 309.4 320.9
2016 Female 60 to 69 23,815 784.2 774.3 794.2
2016 Female 70 to 79 46,088 2,094.2 2,075.2 2,113.5
2016 Female 80 to 89 88,655 6,997.8 6,951.8 7,044.0
2016 Female 90 plus 70,202 20,802.9 20,649.3 20,957.4
2016 Male 1 to 9 337 10.8 9.7 12.0
2016 Male 10 to 19 607 19.0 17.5 20.6
2016 Male 20 to 29 2,060 56.3 53.9 58.8
2016 Male 30 to 39 3,423 93.8 90.7 97.0
2016 Male 40 to 49 7,820 210.5 205.9 215.2
2016 Male 50 to 59 16,472 458.5 451.5 465.5
2016 Male 60 to 69 34,380 1,187.8 1,175.3 1,200.4
2016 Male 70 to 79 59,254 3,031.7 3,007.4 3,056.2
2016 Male 80 to 89 80,768 8,989.9 8,928.0 9,052.1
2016 Male 90 plus 34,167 23,593.6 23,344.0 23,845.1
2017 Female 1 to 9 266 9.0 7.9 10.1
2017 Female 10 to 19 343 11.2 10.0 12.4
2017 Female 20 to 29 780 20.9 19.5 22.4
2017 Female 30 to 39 2,000 52.4 50.2 54.8
2017 Female 40 to 49 4,899 131.2 127.6 134.9
2017 Female 50 to 59 11,247 299.8 294.3 305.4
2017 Female 60 to 69 22,865 764.9 755.0 774.9
2017 Female 70 to 79 47,098 2,029.5 2,011.2 2,047.9
2017 Female 80 to 89 89,756 7,005.2 6,959.4 7,051.2
2017 Female 90 plus 73,029 21,633.2 21,476.6 21,790.7
2017 Male 1 to 9 360 11.5 10.4 12.8
2017 Male 10 to 19 619 19.3 17.8 20.8
2017 Male 20 to 29 1,882 51.5 49.2 53.9
2017 Male 30 to 39 3,438 93.4 90.3 96.6
2017 Male 40 to 49 7,731 211.5 206.8 216.3
2017 Male 50 to 59 16,716 456.4 449.5 463.4
2017 Male 60 to 69 33,346 1,170.7 1,158.2 1,183.4
2017 Male 70 to 79 61,112 2,951.8 2,928.4 2,975.3
2017 Male 80 to 89 82,578 8,962.9 8,901.9 9,024.2
2017 Male 90 plus 36,245 24,224.1 23,975.3 24,474.7
2018 Female 1 to 9 269 9.1 8.1 10.3
2018 Female 10 to 19 360 11.6 10.4 12.9
2018 Female 20 to 29 903 24.3 22.7 25.9
2018 Female 30 to 39 2,072 53.3 51.0 55.7
2018 Female 40 to 49 4,948 134.2 130.5 138.0
2018 Female 50 to 59 11,660 305.9 300.4 311.5
2018 Female 60 to 69 22,752 763.0 753.1 773.0
2018 Female 70 to 79 48,399 2,012.3 1,994.4 2,030.3
2018 Female 80 to 89 90,248 6,955.3 6,910.0 7,000.8
2018 Female 90 plus 73,156 21,800.0 21,642.3 21,958.6
2018 Male 1 to 9 326 10.5 9.4 11.7
2018 Male 10 to 19 696 21.4 19.8 23.0
2018 Male 20 to 29 2,043 56.3 53.9 58.8
2018 Male 30 to 39 3,617 97.2 94.1 100.4
2018 Male 40 to 49 7,833 217.4 212.6 222.3
2018 Male 50 to 59 17,340 466.9 459.9 473.9
2018 Male 60 to 69 33,073 1,162.6 1,150.1 1,175.2
2018 Male 70 to 79 62,584 2,912.1 2,889.3 2,935.0
2018 Male 80 to 89 84,155 8,909.0 8,849.0 8,969.4
2018 Male 90 plus 36,976 24,202.3 23,956.2 24,450.2
2019 Female 1 to 9 292 10.0 8.9 11.2
2019 Female 10 to 19 354 11.3 10.1 12.5
2019 Female 20 to 29 887 24.0 22.4 25.6
2019 Female 30 to 39 2,046 52.0 49.7 54.3
2019 Female 40 to 49 4,749 129.8 126.1 133.5
2019 Female 50 to 59 11,571 299.7 294.2 305.2
2019 Female 60 to 69 22,027 733.8 724.1 743.5
2019 Female 70 to 79 47,942 1,941.0 1,923.7 1,958.5
2019 Female 80 to 89 87,339 6,621.7 6,577.9 6,665.8
2019 Female 90 plus 70,221 20,464.8 20,313.7 20,616.7
2019 Male 1 to 9 295 9.6 8.5 10.7
2019 Male 10 to 19 597 18.1 16.7 19.6
2019 Male 20 to 29 2,085 57.8 55.4 60.4
2019 Male 30 to 39 3,609 96.5 93.3 99.7
2019 Male 40 to 49 7,350 205.8 201.1 210.6
2019 Male 50 to 59 17,334 461.5 454.7 468.5
2019 Male 60 to 69 32,245 1,124.8 1,112.6 1,137.1
2019 Male 70 to 79 62,246 2,817.4 2,795.3 2,839.6
2019 Male 80 to 89 83,595 8,605.2 8,546.9 8,663.7
2019 Male 90 plus 37,173 23,284.8 23,048.7 23,522.7
2020 Female 1 to 9 203 7.0 6.1 8.1
2020 Female 10 to 19 337 10.6 9.5 11.8
2020 Female 20 to 29 808 22.3 20.8 23.9
2020 Female 30 to 39 2,239 56.4 54.1 58.8
2020 Female 40 to 49 5,299 144.9 141.1 148.9
2020 Female 50 to 59 12,826 329.6 323.9 335.3
2020 Female 60 to 69 24,555 808.7 798.6 818.9
2020 Female 70 to 79 54,647 2,167.6 2,149.4 2,185.8
2020 Female 80 to 89 98,840 7,471.8 7,425.3 7,518.5
2020 Female 90 plus 80,210 23,532.1 23,369.6 23,695.6
2020 Male 1 to 9 309 10.2 9.1 11.4
2020 Male 10 to 19 553 16.5 15.2 18.0
2020 Male 20 to 29 1,887 53.2 50.8 55.6
2020 Male 30 to 39 3,833 102.5 99.3 105.8
2020 Male 40 to 49 8,359 235.3 230.3 240.4
2020 Male 50 to 59 20,210 535.4 528.1 542.9
2020 Male 60 to 69 37,217 1,282.3 1,269.3 1,295.4
2020 Male 70 to 79 73,266 3,254.5 3,231.0 3,278.2
2020 Male 80 to 89 98,114 10,011.3 9,948.8 10,074.2
2020 Male 90 plus 43,739 27,219.8 26,965.3 27,476.1
2021 Female 1 to 9 240 8.5 7.4 9.6
2021 Female 10 to 19 353 10.9 9.8 12.1
2021 Female 20 to 29 942 26.3 24.6 28.0
2021 Female 30 to 39 2,365 59.1 56.7 61.5
2021 Female 40 to 49 5,412 148.4 144.5 152.4
2021 Female 50 to 59 13,367 340.2 334.5 346.1
2021 Female 60 to 69 25,237 814.6 804.6 824.7
2021 Female 70 to 79 54,331 2,108.3 2,090.6 2,126.1
2021 Female 80 to 89 92,148 6,963.8 6,918.9 7,008.9
2021 Female 90 plus 74,744 21,699.3 21,544.0 21,855.5
2021 Male 1 to 9 269 9.0 8.0 10.2
2021 Male 10 to 19 676 19.8 18.4 21.4
2021 Male 20 to 29 2,046 58.1 55.6 60.7
2021 Male 30 to 39 4,088 109.0 105.7 112.4
2021 Male 40 to 49 8,773 249.1 244.0 254.4
2021 Male 50 to 59 20,796 547.5 540.1 555.0
2021 Male 60 to 69 37,912 1,280.4 1,267.5 1,293.3
2021 Male 70 to 79 71,719 3,120.4 3,097.6 3,143.3
2021 Male 80 to 89 90,419 9,191.0 9,131.2 9,251.1
2021 Male 90 plus 41,138 24,934.7 24,694.3 25,176.8
2022 Female 1 to 9 283 10.0 8.9 11.2
2022 Female 10 to 19 384 11.6 10.5 12.8
2022 Female 20 to 29 910 25.4 23.8 27.1
2022 Female 30 to 39 2,276 56.2 53.9 58.5
2022 Female 40 to 49 5,046 138.1 134.4 142.0
2022 Female 50 to 59 12,839 327.0 321.3 332.7
2022 Female 60 to 69 24,092 759.3 749.7 768.9
2022 Female 70 to 79 53,786 2,058.3 2,041.0 2,075.8
2022 Female 80 to 89 91,374 6,818.9 6,774.7 6,863.2
2022 Female 90 plus 74,785 21,406.0 21,252.8 21,560.0
2022 Male 1 to 9 337 11.3 10.2 12.6
2022 Male 10 to 19 723 20.7 19.2 22.3
2022 Male 20 to 29 2,017 56.4 54.0 58.9
2022 Male 30 to 39 3,932 103.5 100.3 106.8
2022 Male 40 to 49 7,911 225.3 220.3 230.3
2022 Male 50 to 59 19,281 508.3 501.1 515.5
2022 Male 60 to 69 35,467 1,169.1 1,156.9 1,181.3
2022 Male 70 to 79 70,146 3,012.6 2,990.4 3,035.0
2022 Male 80 to 89 89,571 8,937.8 8,879.3 8,996.5
2022 Male 90 plus 42,878 25,080.6 24,843.7 25,319.1
2023 Female 1 to 9 266 9.3 8.2 10.5
2023 Female 10 to 19 403 11.9 10.8 13.2
2023 Female 20 to 29 904 25.1 23.5 26.8
2023 Female 30 to 39 2,327 56.6 54.4 59.0
2023 Female 40 to 49 5,139 139.4 135.6 143.2
2023 Female 50 to 59 12,535 321.0 315.4 326.7
2023 Female 60 to 69 24,666 758.8 749.4 768.3
2023 Female 70 to 79 53,711 2,040.1 2,022.9 2,057.4
2023 Female 80 to 89 92,131 6,722.6 6,679.3 6,766.2
2023 Female 90 plus 74,723 21,482.3 21,328.6 21,636.9
2023 Male 1 to 9 346 11.6 10.4 12.9
2023 Male 10 to 19 806 22.6 21.1 24.3
2023 Male 20 to 29 1,993 54.8 52.4 57.3
2023 Male 30 to 39 4,092 106.1 102.9 109.4
2023 Male 40 to 49 8,036 227.6 222.7 232.7
2023 Male 50 to 59 19,372 514.2 506.9 521.5
2023 Male 60 to 69 36,078 1,162.7 1,150.7 1,174.7
2023 Male 70 to 79 70,262 2,997.0 2,974.9 3,019.3
2023 Male 80 to 89 91,021 8,825.5 8,768.2 8,883.0
2023 Male 90 plus 42,862 24,710.6 24,477.2 24,945.6
2024 Female 1 to 9 246 8.8 7.7 10.0
2024 Female 10 to 19 408 12.0 10.8 13.2
2024 Female 20 to 29 877 23.5 21.9 25.1
2024 Female 30 to 39 2,313 54.8 52.6 57.1
2024 Female 40 to 49 4,941 131.8 128.2 135.5
2024 Female 50 to 59 12,343 318.6 313.0 324.3
2024 Female 60 to 69 24,149 723.2 714.1 732.4
2024 Female 70 to 79 52,229 1,972.4 1,955.5 1,989.4
2024 Female 80 to 89 89,953 6,336.1 6,294.7 6,377.6
2024 Female 90 plus 72,562 20,961.4 20,809.1 21,114.5
2024 Male 1 to 9 368 12.5 11.3 13.9
2024 Male 10 to 19 714 19.9 18.4 21.4
2024 Male 20 to 29 1,969 51.7 49.5 54.1
2024 Male 30 to 39 3,916 98.1 95.0 101.2
2024 Male 40 to 49 7,835 218.7 213.9 223.6
2024 Male 50 to 59 18,789 502.3 495.1 509.5
2024 Male 60 to 69 35,182 1,104.4 1,092.9 1,116.0
2024 Male 70 to 79 68,571 2,911.7 2,890.0 2,933.6
2024 Male 80 to 89 89,663 8,330.8 8,276.3 8,385.5
2024 Male 90 plus 42,496 23,876.7 23,650.2 24,104.8
Rates are crude rates per 100,000 population

Data source 2001 to 2024: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Rates for 2024 are provisional, based on data as at 15 April 2025

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, based on Office for National Statistics data (2024 data is provisional)


Between 2001 and 2010, there was an improvement in the average annual change in age-specific mortality rate across all age groups for both sexes (Table 6). The level of improvement was largest in the older age categories, but this reflects the fact that this is a measure of absolute change and age-specific mortality rates are much higher at older ages.

Between 2010 and 2019, the estimates of average annual change indicate improvements in most, but not all age groups. For both sexes, the improvement in mortality rates for those aged 90 and over, seen between 2001 and 2010, did not continue between 2010 and 2019. Annual mortality rates fluctuated, but there was a general upward trend across this period. The same was true for those aged 40 to 49 for both sexes, and for men aged 20 to 29. For all other age groups, except those aged 1 to 9, the level of improvement between 2010 and 2019 was lower than between 2001 and 2010.

Between 2022 and 2024, there was an improvement in all age groups for both sexes with the exception of boys aged 1 to 9, and girls and young women aged 10 to 19. Rates in these age groups were statistically similar between 2022 and 2024.

Table 6: Average annual change in age-specific mortality rates, England, by decade
(a) Male
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   1 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80 to 89 90 plus
2001 to 2010   -0.4 -1.26 -2.52 -1.27 -3.1 -10.88 -50.67 -157.83 -227.82 -272.63
2010 to 2019   -0.5 -0.21 0.09 -0.17 0.44 -3.44 -7.32 -51.59 -75.01 111.88
2022 to 2024   0.59 -0.42 -2.33 -2.7 -3.26 -2.99 -32.33 -50.44 -303.5 -601.93
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Female
  Rate per 100,000
Decade   1 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80 to 89 90 plus
2001 to 2010   -0.29 -0.4 -0.83 -0.75 -2.32 -5.74 -26.35 -88.72 -138.93 -177.99
2010 to 2019   -0.32 -0.15 -0.16 -0.24 0.02 -3.31 -3.4 -29.81 -51.24 106.03
2022 to 2024   -0.6 0.18 -0.98 -0.67 -3.16 -4.18 -18.05 -42.97 -241.39 -222.3
A negative value indicates an improvement in mortality within the period.
2020 and 2021 have been excluded due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Methodology and notes about the data

Age-standardised mortality rates

Age-standardised mortality rates adjust for differences in the age structure of populations and allow comparisons to be made between geographical areas and through time, allowing identification of any underlying change in mortality rates. The direct method applies the observed age-specific rates for the condition to a given standard population to estimate the age-standardised rate for that condition. The standard used throughout this report is the European Standard Population 2013.

Average annual change

An estimate of average annual change has been calculated to provide a summary measure of the gradient of improvement across decades. This considers life expectancy or mortality in every year in the decade (not just the first and last years).

The estimates of average annual absolute change over time were calculated by estimating gradients in mortality rates (or life expectancy) for different periods.

The gradients were estimated using a linear regression approach to best fit a line to the time points in each period. This was done by calculating the covariance of the time period and mortality rate (or life expectancy) and dividing by the variance of the time period. The results were replicated using the SLOPE function in Excel for Microsoft 365.

As some mortality rates have decreased relatively rapidly in recent decades, this could have led to differences between relative and absolute changes over time. To test the validity of the gradient results, they were first calculated using actual mortality rates and life expectancy estimates. These were then log transformed and new gradients were calculated using the transformed data, which provided a measure of the relative rate of change. The results for absolute and relative change over time proved generally consistent, that is to say that for both the level of improvement was markedly lower in the most recent time period compared with earlier periods. Only the results for absolute change over time have been included in this report.

Life expectancy

Period life expectancy is a summary measure of mortality in a population. Life expectancy at birth represents the average number of years that would be lived by babies born in a time period if they experienced the mortality rates for that time period throughout their lives. Similarly, life expectancy at age 65 is the average number of remaining years of life that a man or woman aged 65 will have if mortality rates at each age over 65 remain constant. In practice, life expectancy is used as a summary measure of mortality which takes into account changes in the size and age structure of the population. An increase in life expectancy is an improvement.

It is an alternative summary measure to age-standardised mortality rates, and both are used in this report. These two measures are linked and generally when mortality rates increase then life expectancy will fall, and vice versa.

Single year life tables provide expectation of life statistics. Each life table is based on the population estimates and deaths by date of registration data for a period of 1 year.

Provisional data

Data for 2024 is included for some indicators. These indicators have been calculated by OHID using ONS provisional mortality data and population projections as at 15 April 2025.