Drowning deaths in the UK
In 2025, 277 deaths registered in England and Wales had Accidental drowning and submersion (ICD-10 W65 to W74) as the underlying cause, according to the Office for National Statistics. That was 19 fewer than in 2024 (296). Since 2001 the yearly figure has ranged from 171 (2004) to 296 (2024).
Deaths each year in England and Wales
Taking account of the population's size and age, the ONS age-standardised death rate was 0.5 per 100,000 people in 2025, 25.0% higher than in 2013 (0.4). For men it was 0.7 and for women 0.2.
Men accounted for 201 of the 2025 deaths and women for 76.
| Year | All | Men | Women | Age-standardised rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 277 | 201 | 76 | 0.5 |
| 2024 | 296 | 213 | 83 | 0.5 |
| 2023 | 276 | 200 | 76 | 0.5 |
| 2022 | 238 | 176 | 62 | 0.4 |
| 2021 | 215 | 165 | 50 | 0.4 |
| 2020 | 193 | 138 | 55 | 0.3 |
| 2019 | 175 | 132 | 43 | 0.3 |
| 2018 | 211 | 167 | 44 | 0.3 |
| 2017 | 193 | 144 | 49 | 0.3 |
| 2016 | 233 | 171 | 62 | 0.4 |
| 2015 | 224 | 165 | 59 | 0.4 |
| 2014 | 240 | 179 | 61 | 0.4 |
| 2013 | 218 | 165 | 53 | 0.4 |
| 2012 | 196 | 155 | 41 | – |
| 2011 | 175 | 137 | 38 | – |
| 2010 | 217 | 170 | 47 | – |
| 2009 | 205 | 162 | 43 | – |
| 2008 | 195 | 161 | 34 | – |
| 2007 | 193 | 152 | 41 | – |
| 2006 | 190 | 137 | 53 | – |
| 2005 | 194 | 145 | 49 | – |
| 2004 | 171 | 137 | 34 | – |
| 2003 | 209 | 159 | 50 | – |
| 2002 | 191 | 137 | 54 | – |
| 2001 | 204 | 157 | 47 | – |
Age at death
Of the 277 deaths in 2025 with an age recorded, 12.3% were of people aged 75 or over; the largest number, 113, was in the 15 to 44 age group.
| Age | 2025: all | 2025: men | 2025: women | 2001: all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 25 |
| 15 to 44 | 113 | 89 | 24 | 95 |
| 45 to 64 | 78 | 58 | 20 | 54 |
| 65 to 74 | 41 | 26 | 15 | 10 |
| 75 to 84 | 24 | 17 | 7 | 15 |
| 85 and over | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Scotland
National Records of Scotland recorded 48 deaths from this cause in 2024 (34 men, 14 women).
Northern Ireland
NISRA's Registrar General figures give 17 deaths from this cause registered in Northern Ireland in 2024, against 5 in 2014.
| Year | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 2023 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 2022 | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| 2021 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| 2020 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 2019 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 2018 | 15 | 13 | 2 |
| 2017 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
How the figures are defined
Each death is counted once, under its underlying cause: the disease or injury that started the chain of events leading to death, as certified by a doctor or coroner and coded by the ONS to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). This page uses the ONS grouping “Accidental drowning and submersion”, codes W65 to W74. Other conditions mentioned on a death certificate are not counted here.
The counting rules, the age-standardised rate and the ONS notes on changes in cause coding are described under how these figures are compiled.
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Sources and receipts
ONS mortality extracts for codes W65 to W74, with SHA-256 fingerprints; the ONS, NRS and NISRA workbooks are listed with the other sources.
- Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
d9659d58866ffffe…· publisher's page - Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
6919fc2099f87071…· publisher's page - Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
6d4050f6d732b785…· publisher's page
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