Definition and number of deaths due to and involving COVID-19

FOI Ref: FOI/2021/2992

You asked​

Please supply numbers and differences between died with COVID-19 vs died of COVID-19.

we said

​Thank you for your enquiry.

When we say that a death 'involved' COVID-19, we mean that COVID-19 was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, possibly along with other health conditions, not necessarily as the underlying cause of death. When we say that a death was 'due to' COVID-19, we mean that COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death, because it was either the only health condition mentioned on the death certificate, or it was the one that started the train of events leading to death.

You can read in detail about the coding of causes of death and identifying the underlying cause in the ONS User guide to mortality statistics and the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) instruction manual.

Using the Deaths due to COVID-19, registered in England and Wales 2020 publication, you will find deaths due to and involving COVID-19 in England and Wales.

Using Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales 2021, there are 54,237 registered deaths where COVID-19 was the underlying cause as of 3 September (latest available data).

There are 62,156 deaths where COVID-19 was a contributory cause (involving COVID-19). This publication is updated every Tuesday.