The proportion of deaths involving COVID-19 that were due to COVID-19 increased in England and Wales in October 2022

Percentage of deaths involving COVID-19 that were due to COVID-19, England and Wales, deaths registered in March 2020 to October 2022

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The proportion of deaths involving COVID-19 where COVID-19 was the underlying cause increased between September and October 2022 in England (from 61.4% to 65.6%) and in Wales (from 68.7% to 70.1%).

In England, the proportion of deaths involving COVID-19 that were also due to COVID-19 was highest in April 2020 (95.2%) and lowest in June 2022 (59.0%). In Wales, this proportion was highest in April 2020 (94.1%) and lowest in June 2021 (42.9%).

The first deaths involving COVID-19 were registered in England and Wales in March 2020. Since then, COVID-19 has been the underlying cause of most deaths involving COVID-19 (84.9% in England and 83.7% in Wales).

The doctor certifying a death can list all causes in the chain of events that led to the death, and pre-existing conditions that may have contributed to the death. Deaths with COVID-19 mentioned anywhere on the death certificate are defined as deaths involving COVID-19. Deaths where COVID-19 is also the underlying cause of death are defined as deaths due to COVID-19.

Last updated: 23/11/2022

Read more about this in our Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales bulletin

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The mortality rate for deaths due to COVID-19 in England increased to 31.0 deaths per 100,000 people in October 2022, from 16.7 deaths per 100,000 people in September 2022. The COVID-19 mortality rate in October 2022 was similar to the rates in July 2022 and August 2022, and it was around two-fifths of the highest rate seen in 2022 (79.3 deaths per 100,000 people in January 2022).

In Wales, the COVID-19 mortality rate increased to 34.6 deaths per 100,000 people in October 2022, from 19.9 deaths per 100,000 people in September 2022. The rate in October 2022 was similar to the rate in July 2022, and it was around two-fifths of the highest rate seen in 2022 (81.0 deaths per 100,000 people in January 2022).

In October 2022, COVID-19 was the eighth leading cause of death in England (3.3% of all deaths), rising from the 12th leading cause in September 2022 (1.8% of all deaths). In Wales, COVID-19 was the seventh leading cause of death in October 2022 (3.5% of all deaths), rising from the tenth leading cause in September 2022 (2.1% of all deaths).

Last updated: 23/11/2022

Read more about this in our Monthly mortality analysis, England and Wales bulletin

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Deaths involving COVID-19 continued to decrease in the UK

Number of deaths registered by week, UK, week ending 13 March 2020 to 11 November 2022

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There were 583 deaths involving COVID-19 registered in the UK in the week ending 11 November 2022. Of these, 478 were registered in England, 40 in Wales, 18 in Northern Ireland and 47 in Scotland. This is a decrease from 708 deaths registered in the UK in the previous week (ending 4 November 2022).

A total of 13,125 deaths were registered in the UK in the week ending 11 November 2022, which was 7.3% above the five-year average (895 excess deaths). Deaths involving COVID-19 accounted for 4.4% of all UK deaths, which is a decrease from 5.3% in the previous week.

Last updated: 22/11/2022

Read more about this in our Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional bulletin

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COVID-19 was the second leading cause of death in care home residents in England and Wales in 2021

Percentage of deaths of care home residents for the leading causes of death in England and Wales, 2021

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COVID-19 was the second highest leading cause of death in care home residents in both England and Wales in 2021, after Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. This was true for both males (11.5% in England and 12.9% in Wales) and females (10.8% in England and 11.1% in Wales).

For care home residents in England aged under 65 years, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in both males (8.7% of deaths) and females (9.2% of deaths). COVID-19 was also the leading cause of death for male care home residents aged under 65 years in Wales, accounting for 14.3% of deaths. However, Dementia and Alzheimer's disease was the leading cause of death for female care home residents aged under 65 years in Wales.

The proportion of deaths in care home residents that are due to COVID-19 is similar to the proportion of deaths that are due to COVID-19 among the general population.

These numbers include all deaths of people recorded as living in a care home, whether they died in a care home or elsewhere.

Last updated: 22/11/22

Read more about this in our Deaths of care home residents, England and Wales; 2021 bulletin

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