UK death & bereavement statistics

An estimated 46,300 dependent children (aged 0-17) are bereaved of a parent each year. That’s 127 children newly bereaved each day. (4)
1 in 29 five to sixteen-year-olds has been bereaved of a parent or sibling - that's a child in every average class. (4)
6,619 babies and children were stillborn or died under 16 years of age, that’s more than 18 every day. (1)

Child Bereavement UK’s vision is for all families to have the support they need to rebuild their lives, when a child grieves or when a child dies. We are committed to delivering our services to the highest standards for both families and professionals. Together we can help rebuild lives after the devastation of bereavement.

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Statistics relating to baby and child death

Due to differences in how England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales collect data, the most recently published statistics we have been able to collate for the UK are for 2021:

2,866 babies were stillborn, around 8 every day (1)
In addition, 2,004 babies died neonatally within the first 28 days of life, that’s around 5 every day (1)
A further 780 babies died before their first birthday (1)
3,142 live born children died before the age of 5 (1)
In total, 6,008 babies and children were stillborn or died under the age of 5 - that’s more than 16 every day (1)
969 children died between the ages of 1 and 15 (1)
In total 6,619 babies and children were stillborn or died under 16 years of age, that’s more than 18 every day (1)
An estimated 1 in every 5 pregnancies ends in miscarriage (2)
Around 200 under 18s die by suicide each year (3)

Statistics relating to bereaved children

Data are not officially collected on the number of children bereaved each year in the UK. Child Bereavement UK is campaigning with other bereavement organisations, calling on the government to record official data on the number of children affected by bereavement.

In the absence of these data, the numbers have been estimated using mortality statistics, census data, and other sources. (4)

An estimated 26,900 parents die each year in the UK leaving dependent children; that’s one parent every 20 minutes
An estimated 46,300 dependent children (aged 0-17) are bereaved of a parent each year. That’s 127 children newly bereaved each day
1 in 29 five to sixteen-year-olds has been bereaved of a parent or sibling - that's a child in every average class

Maternal deaths in England and Wales (5)

Just over 1% of children in England and Wales experience the death of their birth mother before they are 16 years old.
It is estimated that around 7,000 children every year in England and Wales could experience maternal bereavement by the age of 16.

Paternal deaths in England and Wales (5)

It is estimated that the number of children who experience the death of their father by the age of 16 could be around twice as high as the number who are bereaved of their mother.

Deaths by suicide

In 2021, 6,573 deaths by suicide were registered in the UK, of which 1,905 were people under 35 (6)
An estimated 200 under 18s die by suicide each year (3)

Sources

(1) Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency: Vital statistics in the UK: births, deaths and marriages and Office for National Statistics: Child mortality (death cohort) tables in England and Wales

(2) Tommy's: Miscarriage statistics

(3) Samaritans: Young people and suicide

(4) Childhood Bereavement Network based on 2019-2021 data. Childhood Bereavement Network: Key statistics and Childhood Bereavement Network: Key statistics 2022

(5) Office for National Statistics: Children aged under 16 years who have experienced the death of their mother and Office for National Statistics Blog - How many children experience the death of their mother?

(6) Office for National Statistics: Suicides in England and Wales , Scottish Public Health Observatory: Mental health: Suicide and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency: Finalised Suicide Statistics 2015 to 2021

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