Deaths: key points

  • There were 62,941 deaths registered in Scotland in 2022. This is 646 (1%) less than in 2021.
  • Rates of mortality in 2022 were similar to rates in 2012. This stalling of improvement in mortality trends in Scotland over the last decade are due to the wider impacts of COVID-19 and recent adverse mortality trends.
  • Scotland continues to have the highest mortality rate of all the UK countries and one of the highest rates of mortality in Western Europe.
  • There are geographical variations in mortality, evident at NHS board and council area level.
  • Deprivation level has a strong association with all-cause mortality. The death rate for the most deprived quintile (fifth) of the population is just under twice that of the least deprived quintile.
  • Leading causes of death in Scotland (for people of all ages) are those due to heart disease, lung cancer, cerebrovascular diseases, and Dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
  • Leading causes of death in people under 75 years are those due to heart disease, lung cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and accidental poisonings including drug abuse.

Section updates:

  • The last major update of this section was completed in December 2022.
  • The next major update is due to be carried out by end December 2023.