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.

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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Supervising Bereavement Work

23 April 2020, London

Supporting bereaved children and young people

Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they show it in different ways. They copy the responses of the adults around them, and rely on adults to provide them with the support.
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.
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.
What we offer

We are recognised as the leading provider of training for professionals working with bereaved families.
What we do

Our vision is for all families to have the support they need to rebuild their lives, when a child grieves or when a child dies.
Royal Patron: HRH The Duke of Cambridge

HRH The Duke of Cambridge has been Royal Patron of Child Bereavement UK since 2009.
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.
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.
Our history

25 years of rebuilding lives together - founded in September 1994 as The Child Bereavement Trust by Jenni Thomas OBE.
Impact Film 2017-18

Last year we provided bereavement support to more children, young people, parents and families than ever before and we trained more professionals to provide the best possible care.