Being a registrar means you’re there for the ups and downs in people’s lives. Whether it’s the highs of seeing a couple get married and registering a new addition to a family (in our last post we explored birth registration statistics), they’re balanced out by the quieter moments supporting a bereaved family through a passing of a loved one.
As part of our series of posts showing annual trends in the statistics that matter to registrars, we follow on with death registration statistics across England and Wales, highlighting:
- Regional trends
- Trends by authority type
- Comparisons to 2021 figures
Read on for a full breakdown on death registrations that took place in 2022:
*All figures are pulled from the deaths registered statistics for 2022 and 2021 (non-refreshed) provided by the ONS.
Death registrations in England and Wales 2022:
In 2022, 577,160 deaths were registered in England, Wales and Elsewhere, with a split of 540,333 in England and 35,694 in Wales.
This represents a -1.64% change in deaths registered against their statistics in 2021 in England, while a -1.22% change was seen in Wales.
From a regional perspective, the number of registrations was ordered as follows:
- South East: 88,237
- North West: 78,626
- South West: 62,546
- East Anglia: 61,837
- West Midlands: 59,787
- Yorkshire and The Humber: 57,222
- London: 52,014
- East Midlands: 49,896
- Wales: 35,694
- North East: 30,168
Death registrations by region (England and Wales 2022):
North East – 30,168 deaths registered
The North East of England registered 30,168 deaths in 2022, seeing the number of deaths fall by 0.35% on the previous year.
The busiest registrars managing death registrations were in Durham, registering 6,218 deaths within the borough, followed by Northumberland (3,926) and Sunderland (3,273).
The biggest percentage changes in deaths came from Middlesbrough (-5.25%) and Stockton-on-Tees (4.62%) who saw a decrease and an increase respectively.
- Durham: 6,218
- Northumberland: 3,926
- Sunderland: 3,273
- Newcastle: 2,603
- North Tyneside: 2,400
- Gateshead: 2,287
- Stockton-on-Tees: 2,037
- South Tyneside: 1,814
- Redcar and Cleveland: 1,738
- Middlesbrough: 1,535
- Darlington: 1,273
- Hartlepool: 1,064
North West – 78,626 deaths registered
Having two county authorities (at the time the data was released as Cumbria split into two the following year), the North West’s death registrations were the 2nd highest of any region in the UK at 78,626, a decrease of 0.42% on 2021.
Of the North West, Lancashire conducted the most death registrations with 14,039 (notably the 4th highest in England and Wales too), followed by Cumbria (6,228) and Liverpool (4,734).
The biggest percentage changes in the region both as increases and decreases were Wigan with a 7.65% increase and Knowsley with a decrease of 9.15%.
- Lancashire: 14,039
- Cumbria: 6,228
- Liverpool: 4,734
- Cheshire East: 4,411
- Wirral: 3,891
- Cheshire West and Chester: 3,796
- Wigan: 3,701
- Manchester: 3,688
- Sefton: 3,629
- Stockport: 3,157
- Bolton: 2,983
- Tameside: 2,460
- Salford: 2,421
- Oldham: 2,345
- St. Helens: 2,194
- Rochdale: 2,188
- Trafford: 2,178
- Warrington: 2,129
- Bury: 2,026
- Blackpool: 1,951
- Knowsley: 1,639
- Blackburn with Darwen: 1,452
- Halton: 1,386
Yorkshire and The Humber – 57,222 deaths registered
With large metropolitan districts including Leeds and Sheffield, the region’s registrars registered 57,222 deaths in 2022, an increase on 2021’s 56,155 (1.9%).
The highest number of registrations took place in the only county council in the region, North Yorkshire with 7,171 deaths registered, followed by Leeds and Sheffield with 7,016 and 5,545 respectively.
North Lincolnshire and Calderdale saw the biggest changes in death registration volumes, with an increase of 6.65% and decrease of 5.81% respectively.
- North Yorkshire: 7,171
- Leeds: 7,016
- Sheffield: 5,545
- Bradford: 4,956
- East Riding of Yorkshire: 4,389
- Kirklees: 4,223
- Wakefield: 3,806
- Doncaster: 3,566
- Rotherham: 2,989
- Barnsley: 2,876
- Hull: 2,692
- Calderdale: 2,075
- York: 2,010
- North Yorkshire: 1,973
- North East Lincolnshire: 1,935
East Midlands – 49,896 deaths registered
Home to large county councils including Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, teams in the East Midlands recorded a total of 49,896 deaths in 2022. This was down 1.22% on their 2021 figure.
Within the region, Lincolnshire’s registrars managed the highest number of death registrations (9,215), followed by both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire who also received over 9,000+.
In terms of percentage change in the region, Rutland and Nottingham saw the biggest change between 2022 and 2021. Rutland saw an increase of 6.59% in deaths registered, while Nottingham saw a decrease of 10.46%.
- Lincolnshire: 9,215
- Derbyshire: 9,106
- Nottinghamshire: 9,041
- Leicestershire: 7,059
- West Northamptonshire: 3,631
- North Northamptonshire: 3,528
- Leicester: 2,818
- Derby: 2,598
- Nottingham: 2,431
- Rutland: 469
West Midlands – 59,787 deaths registered
The West Midlands saw the 2nd highest overall decline in deaths registered in any region in England and Wales from their 2021 figure (2.83%). The overall figures dropped from 59,787 from 61,528.
As one of the 3 county councils in the region, Staffordshire registered the highest number of deaths with 9,478 in 2022, followed by Birmingham (9,106) and Worcestershire (6,762).
The biggest increase and decreases were experienced by Shropshire and Wolverhampton though, with an increase of 3.84% and a decrease of 9.41% respectively.
- Staffordshire: 9,478
- Birmingham: 9,106
- Worcestershire: 6,762
- Warwickshire: 6,305
- Shropshire: 3,947
- Dudley: 3,487
- Sandwell: 3,093
- Coventry: 3,021
- Walsall: 2,856
- Wolverhampton: 2,697
- Stoke-on-Trent: 2,616
- Herefordshire: 2,331
- Solihull: 2,330
- Telford and Wrekin: 1,758
East Anglia – 61,837 deaths registered
Following on from the West Midlands, East Anglia saw the 3rd biggest decrease in deaths registered in England and Wales, seeing a 2.77% drop overall.
Essex’s registrars oversaw the most deaths registered in the region (15,181), which was also the 2nd highest in England and Wales. This was followed by Norfolk (11,284) and Hertfordshire (9,982).
The region also saw one of the biggest decreases in deaths registered, with Southend decreasing by 11%, while having one of the smallest increases (Cambridge 2.78%).
- Essex: 15,181
- Norfolk: 11,284
- Hertfordshire: 9,982
- Suffolk: 8,512
- Cambridgeshire: 6,096
- Central Bedfordshire: 2,484
- Southend: 1,897
- Peterborough: 1,850
- Bedford: 1,643
- Luton: 1,598
- Thurrock: 1,310
London – 52,014 deaths registered
Overseeing a decrease of 4,000 deaths, London boroughs saw the biggest decrease in deaths in England and Wales, dropping 8.66% in total. Only two saw increases in deaths registered from the 33 (Richmond and Lambeth).
The busiest registrars in London were Croydon, who helped 2,640 bereaved families, followed by Bromley and Barnet with 2,595 and 2,569 respectively.
3 of the biggest decreases in deaths registered occurred in London, with Newham seeing a 19% fall in deaths registered. The borough that saw the greatest increase in deaths registered was Richmond, with 2.5%.
- Croydon: 2,640
- Bromley: 2,595
- Barnet: 2,569
- Havering: 2,430
- Bexley: 2,145
- Enfield: 2,132
- Hillingdon: 2,129
- Ealing: 2,121
- Redbridge: 1,937
- Brent: 1,888
- Harrow: 1,713
- Hounslow: 1,652
- Lewisham: 1,636
- Greenwich: 1,623
- Lambeth: 1,593
- Sutton: 1,548
- Waltham Forest: 1,529
- Wandsworth: 1,514
- Newham: 1,444
- Southwark: 1,390
- Haringey: 1,336
- Richmond Upon Thames: 1,312
- Barking and Dagenham: 1,282
- Merton: 1,271
- Hackney: 1,192
- Kingston Upon Thames: 1,142
- Tower Hamlets: 1,140
- Camden: 1,134
- Islington: 1,095
- Westminster: 1,050
- Hammersmith and Fulham: 934
- Kensington and Chelsea: 858
- City of London: 40
South East – 88,237 deaths registered
Spanning a large area, the authorities in the South East saw the highest number of deaths registered in England and Wales for both 2022 and 2021, with 88,237 and 90,193 respectively. Overall, this represented a drop of 2.17%.
With also the highest births registered in England and Wales, the registrars in Kent also registered the highest number of deaths (16,307). This was closely followed by the teams in Hampshire and Surrey, who registered 14,058 and 10,919 respectively.
Bracknell Forest saw the greatest increase of deaths registered 11.49% while Isle of Wight saw the greatest decrease 12.16%.
- Kent: 16,307
- Hampshire: 14,058
- Surrey: 10,919
- West Sussex: 9,860
- East Sussex: 6,997
- Oxfordshire: 6,025
- Buckinghamshire: 4,776
- Medway: 2,427
- Brighton and Hove: 2,135
- Milton Keynes: 2,018
- Southampton: 1,948
- Isle of Wight: 1,878
- Portsmouth: 1,793
- Wokingham: 1,363
- West Berkshire: 1,350
- Windsor and Maidenhead: 1,331
- Reading: 1,206
- Slough: 924
- Bracknell Forest: 922
South West – 62,546 deaths registered
Overseeing the highest increase in deaths registered in England and Wales, the South West saw a total increase of 2.12% from their 2021 figure.
Of the authorities in the South West, Devon registered the highest number of deaths (9,647), followed by both Gloucestershire (7,038) and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (6,972).
In the region, the biggest fluctuations from 2021 were seen in South Gloucestershire and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, with a 9.46% increase and a 3.61% decrease respectively.
- Devon: 9,647
- Gloucestershire: 7,038
- Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: 6,972
- Somerset: 6,818
- Wiltshire: 5,206
- Dorset: 4,956
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: 4,594
- Bristol: 3,606
- Plymouth: 2,729
- South Gloucestershire: 2,649
- North Somerset: 2,567
- Swindon: 1,982
- Torbay: 1,961
- Bath and North East Somerset: 1,821
Wales – 35,694 deaths registered
The 22 authorities in Wales registered 35,694 deaths in 2022, a 1.22% decrease from their 2021 figure of 36,135.
The number of deaths registered was highest in the South West region, with Cardiff’s registrars recording 2,884 registrations, with Swansea (2,789) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (2,521) just following.
Across the country, there were various 5%+ fluctuations in either direction. The highest decrease was seen in the Vale of Glamorgan (10.5%) while the highest increase was seen in Torfaen (8.92%).
- Cardiff: 2,884
- Swansea: 2,789
- Rhondda Cynon Taf: 2,521
- Carmarthenshire: 2,490
- Caerphilly: 2,108
- Flintshire: 1,724
- Powys: 1,717
- Neath Port Talbot: 1,707
- Conwy: 1,661
- Pembrokeshire: 1,636
- Newport: 1,629
- Bridgend: 1,576
- Wrexham: 1,521
- Gwynedd: 1,386
- Denbighshire: 1,360
- Vale of Glamorgan: 1,313
- Monmouthshire: 1,178
- Torfaen: 1,136
- Isle of Anglesey: 889
- Ceredigion: 890
- Blaenau Gwent: 873
- Merthyr Tydfil: 696