UK death & bereavement statistics

UK Statistics

A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.
1 in 29 5-16 year olds has been bereaved of a parent or sibling - that's a child in every average class.

Source: Childhood Bereavement Network

In 2017 in the UK*:

5821 people died by suicide
3200 babies were stillborn – that’s around 9 babies every day
6,608 babies and children under 5 died – that’s more than 18 every day
869 school aged children (5-16 year-olds) died
7653 babies, children and young people (under the age of 18) died – that’s 21 every day

*Source: Child Bereavement UK: Office for National Statistics; National Records of Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Maternal deaths in England & Wales

An estimated 1% of children born between 1971 and 2000 experienced maternal bereavement before the age of 16 years in England and Wales.

This could mean that around 7,000 children are currently born each year who will go on to experience the death of their mother before the age of 16 years across both countries.

It is estimated that the number of children who lost a father by this age could be around twice as high as the number who lost a mother.

Source: Office for National Statistics 2019

Child Bereavement UK YouGov Survey

Child Bereavement UK conducted an Omnibus Survey in 2016. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2036 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th – 30th June 2016. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Download the figures here

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Understanding traumatic bereavement in children and young people

Interactive training - various dates

Telling a child that someone has died

It is important to tell a child of any age when someone important in their lives has died, and ideally this is done by someone who is closest to them.
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Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
Grieving for a child of any age

The agony of losing a child of any age is unparalleled. There is no age or point in time that makes it any easier. No parent expects to face the death of their child and no grandparent expects to lose their grandchild.
When a grandparent dies

The death of a grandparent is often a child or young person’s first encounter with the death of someone important. Parents have a great deal to manage when their own parent or carer dies. There is the grief associated with their own loss, but also the reactions and responses of their children to the death of a grandparent.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
Child Bereavement UK training

Child Bereavement UK designs and delivers training for professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Babies and young children have no understanding of the concept of death yet, long before they are able to talk, babies are likely to react to upset and changes in their environment brought about by the absence of a significant person.
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Contact details for our Helpline, departments and services.
When your baby dies

When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.
UK death & bereavement statistics

A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.