You asked
Can you please provide the annual statistical data for the previous 5 years for deaths with a recorded underlying causes of:
Seasonal Flu - Influenza
Coronavirus - Covid-19
For the Year 2020, please provide actual recorded data sets (provisional or not) up to the date you have which is most current.
We said
Thank you for your request.
We are responsible for the provision of mortality statistics for England and Wales. National Records Scotland (NRS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for statistics pertaining to Scotland and Northern Ireland. They can be contacted at foi@nrscotland.gov.uk and info@nisra.gov.uk respectively.
We did not begin collecting COVID-19 mortality data until 2020. Therefore, we do not hold data for previous years.
Influenza and COVID-19 deaths in 2020:
The downloadable dataset beneath Figure 2 of our most recent Weekly deaths bulletin provides weekly data showing the number of deaths from influenza and pneumonia combined (ICD-10 codes J09-J18) and COVID-19 (U07.1-U07.2) in 2020.
Where we categorise deaths as "Due to" an illness, this refers only to deaths where the illness was recorded as the underlying cause of death. Where we categorise deaths as "involving" an illness, this refers to deaths that had that illness mentioned anywhere on the death certificate.
Please see the following summed weekly totals for deaths up to week ending 8 January 2021 due to and involving Influenza and Pneumonia.
Deaths involving Influenza and Pneumonia (underlying or secondary cause): 111,957
Deaths due to Influenza and Pneumonia (underlying cause): 20,523
Here are the summed totals for COVID-19 up to week ending 8 January 2021:
Deaths involving COVID-19 (underlying or secondary cause): 86,887
Deaths due to COVID-19 (underlying cause): 78,811
More in-depth analysis of deaths occurring between 1st January and 31st August 2020, including a split of flu and pneumonia figures for England and Wales and comparisons of deaths from COVID with deaths from flu and pneumonia are available here: Deaths due to coronavirus (COVID-19) compared with deaths from influenza and pneumonia, England and Wales.
A full breakdown of deaths by influenza and pneumonia separately for 2020 will be available once the data is finalised in mid-2021. Consequently, this information is considered exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. Furthermore, as a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
The final release date will be announced on our Release Calendar.
Deaths from influenza 2015 to 2019:
The number of deaths where influenza was the underlying cause can be obtained via our NOMIS webservice for 2013 to 2019. Influenza can be identified using ICD-10 code J09-J11.
Please see the following instructions for using this service:
Select the geography - England and Wales, regional or by local authority
Select Age - All ages or 5-year age bands
Select Gender - Total or Male/Female
Select rates - All deaths, rates or percentage of population, etc.
Select cause of death - Please select ICD-10 codes J09-J11.
Select format (Excel or CSV for example)
If you would like to discuss these statistics further, please contact health.data@ons.gov.uk.