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Deaths
Deaths involving COVID-19 increased in the UK
Number of deaths registered by week, UK, week ending 13 March 2020 to week ending 16 July 2021
Source: Office for National Statistics – Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales
Download this chart Deaths involving COVID-19 increased in the UK
Image .csv .xlsThere were 268 deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) registered in the UK in the week ending 16 July 2021. Of these, 213 were registered in England, 4 were registered in Wales, 47 were registered in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland. Figures for the individual nations exclude deaths of non-residents, therefore the sum may differ from the total UK figure.
Weekly death registrations for Scotland and Northern Ireland are produced and published by National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Last updated: 27/07/2021
Read more about this in Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional
Deaths from all causes were above the five-year average
Number of deaths registered by week, England and Wales, 28 December 2019 to 16 July 2021
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The number of deaths from all causes was 4.8% above the five-year average in the latest week (week ending 16 July 2021).
The total number of deaths registered between the weeks ending 13 March 2020 and 16 July 2021 in England and Wales was 821,226. Of these, 141,156 mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate (17.2%).
Last updated: 27/07/2021
Read more about this in Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional
In England, mortality rates due to COVID-19 in June 2021 were similar to May 2021
Age-standardised mortality rates for deaths due to COVID-19, per 100,000 people, England and Wales, March 2020 to June 2021
Source: Office for National Statistics - Monthly mortality analysis
Download this chart In England, mortality rates due to COVID-19 in June 2021 were similar to May 2021
Image .csv .xlsMortality rates due to COVID-19 in England were similar in June 2021 to the previous month. In June 2021, COVID-19 was the 26th most common cause of death in England. Between November 2020 and February 2021 COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in both England and Wales. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Wales (2 deaths) was too small to create a reliable estimate for June 2021. As a result the mortality rate has not been calculated and it was not possible to reliably rank COVID-19 compared with other leading causes of death.
Last updated: 23/07/2021
Read more about this in Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales
Deaths by age
In older age groups, COVID-19 positivity rates were lowest, but hospital admission rates and deaths were highest
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for COVID-19 in the week ending 17 July 2021, hospital admission rates in the week ending 18 July, and deaths registered in the week ending 16 July, by age, England
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Positivity rates were highest among teenagers and young adults (school Year 12 to age 24 years) and lowest in groups aged 70 years and over (week ending 17 July 2021). While hospital admission rates remain highest in those aged 75 years and over, rates in those aged 25 to 44 years are higher than in age groups between 45 and 74 years (week ending 18 July). This is likely to reflect higher proportion of fully vaccinated adults among those aged 45 to 74 years compared with those aged 25 to 44 years. The number of registered deaths involving COVID-19 was highest in those aged 75 to 84 years and lowest in children aged 1 to 14 years (week ending 16 July).
Last updated: 27/07/2021
Deaths by region
The North West had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in 2020
Age-standardised mortality rates for deaths due to COVID-19, per 100,000 people, Wales and regions in England, 2020
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Mortality rates due to COVID-19 were significantly higher in the North West region of England (176.0 deaths per 100,000 people) than in any other region in 2020. The next highest rates were seen in London (167.3 per 100,000) and the North East (166.8 per 100,000). The South West recorded a significantly lower COVID-19 mortality rate (59.3 deaths per 100,000) than any other region.
In Wales, the COVID-19 mortality rate was 129.7 per 100,000 people (4,382 deaths).
Last updated: 06/07/2021
Read more about this in Deaths due to COVID-19, registered in England and Wales: 2020
Deaths by sex
COVID-19 mortality rates were higher for men than women
Age-standardised and age-specific mortality rates for deaths due to COVID-19 by sex and age group, per 100,000 people, England and Wales, 2020
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Mortality rates due to COVID-19 were significantly higher for men than women across all age groups. Men accounted for over a half (55.6%) of COVID-19 deaths in 2020.
Mortality rates increased with age group, from 15.9 deaths per 100,000 people under 65 years to 2,918.1 deaths per 100,000 people aged 90 years and over.
Last updated: 06/07/2021
Read more about this in Deaths due to COVID-19, registered in England and Wales: 2020
Deaths by ethnicity
Most ethnic minority groups have higher risk of death involving COVID-19 than those of White British background
Patterns of coronavirus (COVID-19) mortality risk by ethnic group have changed over the course of the pandemic.
In the first wave of the pandemic (24 January to 11 September 2020), people of Black and South Asian ethnic background had substantially higher risk of death involving COVID-19, compared with those of White British background.
In the second wave of the pandemic (12 September 2020 onwards), people of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic background were particularly at risk. Whilst people of Black ethnic background remained at higher risk in the second wave, the relative risk compared with White British people was reduced.
Last updated: 26/05/2021
Pre-existing health conditions
Dementia and Alzheimer's disease was the most common pre-existing condition among COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales in 2020
The 20 most common pre-existing conditions mentioned in COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales registered in 2020.
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Of deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 was the underlying cause, the most common pre-existing condition recorded on the death certificate was dementia and Alzheimer's disease. This was identified in around a quarter of COVID-19 deaths. For comparison, dementia and Alzheimer's disease was mentioned in around a fifth of all-cause deaths in England and Wales between 2017 and 2019, a slightly lower proportion. Pre-existing health conditions are recorded on the death certificate if the certifying doctor or coroner believed they made some contribution to the death. Therefore, the death certificate does not include all health conditions the deceased might have suffered from if they were not considered relevant.
Last updated: 25/02/2021
Read more about this in Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales
COVID-19 mortality risk for most disabled groups is higher than non-disabled groups, although the risk is substantially reduced after adjusting for other characteristics
Hazard ratios for death involving COVID-19 for disabled men and women relative to non-disabled people of the same sex, adjusting for age, residence type, geography, socio-economic and demographic factors, and comorbidities, England: 24 January to 20 November 2020
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After adjusting for a range of factors, compared with non-disabled people, an increased risk of death involving COVID-19 remained for more-disabled and less-disabled women (1.4 and 1.2 times respectively) and more-disabled men (1.1 times) but not for less-disabled men. Disability status was defined according to the 2011 Census, with more-disabled and less-disabled referring to people who reported their daily activities as "limited a lot" or "limited a little", respectively.
Last updated: 11/02/2021
Further information
This page provides an overview of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, bringing together data from multiple sources. Each graphic provides a link to explore the topic further. See the more information page to read about different data sources used in the tool.
The tool is updated regularly when relevant data are published. This is typically at least twice a week, for example:
when weekly deaths registrations are published (usually on a Tuesday)
when results from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, and Opinions and Lifestyle Survey are published (usually on a Friday)
Daily updates on COVID-19 levels and vaccinations can be found on GOV.UK.
Some policy areas are devolved and more information is available for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.