Life events data

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) holds individual records from life events such as births and deaths registered in England and Wales.

Most information has been collected on a compulsory basis although some details are provided voluntarily.

ONS processes and tabulates the data, and publishes figures on a regular basis.

Births

Births data are available in electronic format from 1963 to present. Figures are published on a quarterly and annual basis.

The main analyses of births data are by birthweight, mother’s age, area of residence and mother’s country of birth. Other variables are also available.

ONS estimates the age at conception for all births and legal abortions, and publishes figures for conceptions by mother’s age, area of residence and marital status.

ONS also publishes statistics on popular baby names.

Deaths

Deaths data are available in electronic format from 1959 to present.

Figures are published on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.

The main analyses of mortality data are by age, sex, area of residence and cause of death.

Other variables are also available.

In addition to the standard registrations database ONS maintains databases for deaths related to drug poisoning and deaths involving the infections MRSA and Clostridium difficile.

Annual statistics are produced on excess winter mortality, subnational life expectancy, alcohol-related deaths and suicides.

The death records of children under 18 are linked to their birth records and are used for analyses of infant mortality and unexplained infant death.

Geographical breakdown

Statistics are available for England and Wales and various sub-national breakdowns depending on the availability of postcode on the registration record.

Examples of geographical breakdowns include: the English regions, counties/unitary authorities, local authority districts and primary care organisations.

Bespoke geographical tabulations can also be provided.

Other Life Events

ONS also publishes statistics on marriages and civil partnerships, divorces and civil dissolutions (data from HM Courts Service), adoptions (data from the General Register Office) and cancer registrations (incidence and survival; data from cancer registries).

Contact ONS about Life Events

You can contact ONS for more information about life events data, statistics and tables and help or guidance about the best source of data to meet your information needs.

Special extracts and tabulations of data are available to order at a cost (subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control and agreement of costs, where appropriate).

General enquiries

on all life events and bespoke data based on published outputs and standard geographical breakdowns:

Vital Statistics Outputs Branch
Health and Life Events Division (Titchfield)
Office for National Statistics
Segensworth Road
Titchfield
Fareham
Hampshire PO15 5RR

Tel 01329 444110
Email vsob@ons.gov.uk

Non-standard geographies

Mortality Analysis Team
Health and Life Events Division (Newport)
Office for National Statistics
Government Buildings
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales NP10 8XG

Tel: 01633 455341
Email: healthgeog@ons.gov.uk

Deaths related to drug poisoning and MRSA and C. difficile infection

Mortality Analysis Team
Health and Life Events Division (Newport)

See Newport address above.

Tel: 01633 455341
Email: mortality@ons.gov.uk

Child Mortality

Child Health Analysis Team
Health and Life Events Division (Newport)

See Newport address above.

Tel: 01633 456398
Email: cim@ons.gov.uk

Cancer registrations

Cancer Analysis Team
Health and Life Events Division (Newport)