Share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of deaths from each major cause was 4.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
4.9%
Change on year
up 7.8%
World rank
27th
of 113 countries
All-time high
5.2%
in 2010
All-time low
2.2%
in 1967
Years of data
72
1950–2021
Share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom, 1950–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom stood at 4.9%.
The figure is up 7.8% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom peaked at 5.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1967.
That places United Kingdom 27th out of 113 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 72 years of available data.
Share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.7% | — |
| 1951 | 2.6% | -3.3% |
| 1952 | 2.8% | +7.4% |
| 1953 | 2.7% | -3.9% |
| 1954 | 2.8% | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 2.7% | -2.9% |
| 1956 | 2.6% | -2.3% |
| 1957 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 2.5% | -5.0% |
| 1959 | 2.4% | -2.0% |
| 1960 | 2.5% | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 2.4% | -4.6% |
| 1962 | 2.4% | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 2.3% | -4.4% |
| 1964 | 2.3% | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 2.3% | -2.8% |
| 1966 | 2.2% | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 2.2% | -0.1% |
| 1968 | 2.4% | +8.0% |
| 1969 | 2.4% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 2.3% | -4.4% |
| 1971 | 2.4% | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 2.4% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.5% | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 2.6% | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 2.5% | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 2.4% | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 2.8% | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 2.9% | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 2.8% | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 3.0% | +8.2% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 3.1% | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 3.1% | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 3.2% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 3.4% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 3.2% | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 3.6% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 5.1% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 5.1% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 5.2% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 5.1% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 4.9% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More health data for United Kingdom
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9864 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.0827 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.087 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom?
- Share of deaths from each major cause in United Kingdom was 4.9% in 2021, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1967.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of deaths from each major cause?
- United Kingdom ranks 27th out of 113 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of deaths from each major cause rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths from each major cause. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of total reported deaths in both sexes in those aged all ages that are from digestive diseases.