Excess mortality in England
Monthly analysis estimating excess mortality and mortality rates in England broken down by age, sex, region, upper tier local authority, level of deprivation and cause of death.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Proposal to pause reporting
OHID began publishing estimates of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has continued to publish estimates ever since, but it last reported excess deaths in England in June 2023. In other words, numbers of deaths in England have been lower than expected in every month since then.
In February 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and OHID adopted a similar excess mortality methodology. Rather than both organisations continuing to publish excess mortality estimates, it is now proposed that OHID will pause updates of their report after the next release on 21 May 2026.
ONS will continue to publish weekly national estimates of excess deaths in a report which also includes numbers of deaths from influenza and pneumonia, all respiratory diseases and COVID-19. ONS also publish monthly counts of deaths, including for regions and local authorities.
Comments on this proposal can be sent to pha-ohid@dhsc.gov.uk
The ‘Excess mortality in England’ report provides an estimate of excess mortality broken down by:
- age
- sex
- region
- upper tier local authority
- level of deprivation
- cause of death
It is classified as official statistics in development.
This report replaced Excess mortality in England and English regions: March 2020 to December 2023 in February 2024. The changes between the 2 reporting methods are detailed in ‘Changes to OHID’s reporting of excess mortality in England’. The detailed methodology used for the report is also documented.
A summary of results from both reports can be found in ‘Excess mortality within England: 2023 data - statistical commentary’. In November 2024, monthly age-standardised mortality rates were added to the report to aid understanding of recent mortality trends.
Other excess mortality reports
‘Excess mortality in England’ complements other excess mortality and mortality surveillance reports from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). These are summarised in Measuring excess mortality: a guide to the main reports.
Questions or feedback
If you have any comments, questions or feedback, email pha-ohid@dhsc.gov.uk. Mark the email subject as ‘Excess mortality reports feedback’.
Updates to this page
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (March 2026 data). Information added about publication plans.
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (February data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (January 2026 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (December 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (November 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (October 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (September 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (August 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (July 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (June 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (May 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (April 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (March 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (February 2025 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (January 2025 data). Change made to PRA list.
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (December 2024 data). Analysis incorporates updates to population estimates, which are subsequent to population updates introduced in the November 2024 release.
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (November 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (October 2024 data). Monthly age-standardised mortality rates added for the first time. Provisional mortality date for 2023 replaced with final data for 2023.
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (September 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (August 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (July 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (June 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (May 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (April 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (March 2024 data).
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Analysis updated with the latest available data (February 2024 data).
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First published.