Number of deaths registered up 5.6% in 2015

The number of deaths registered in 2015 was 5.6% higher than those registered in 2014, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

There were 529,655 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2015, an increase of 5.6% compared with 2014.

The body also states that, in contrast to recent years, the age adjusted mortality rate increased more for women than for men, up by 5.1% for women and 3.1% for men.

Cancer was the most common broad cause of death (28% of all deaths registered) followed by circulatory diseases, such as heart disease and strokes (26%).

The infant mortality rate remained at 3.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2015.

The ONS bulletin stated: “Mortality rates increased in England and Wales in 2015, in contrast to the general downward trend in recent decades. The increase in mortality rates was particularly notable in deaths due to respiratory diseases.”

Liz McLaren, Head of Vital Statistics Outputs at ONS, said: “The first 3 months of the year contributed most to the increased number of deaths registered in England and Wales in 2015. Over 24,000 more deaths were registered between January and March 2015 compared with the same period in 2014. This period saw a peak in flu cases which resulted in a notable increase in mortality rates for respiratory diseases for both sexes.”