Epilepsy deaths in the UK
In 2025, 949 deaths registered in England and Wales had Epilepsy and status epilepticus (ICD-10 G40 to G41) as the underlying cause, according to the Office for National Statistics. That was 62 more than in 2024 (887). The highest yearly figure since 2001 was 1,075 in 2003; the lowest was 812 in 2015.
Deaths each year in England and Wales
Taking account of the population's size and age, the ONS age-standardised death rate was 1.5 per 100,000 people in 2025, 21.1% lower than in 2013 (1.9). For men it was 1.8 and for women 1.2.
In 2025, 541 of the deaths were of men and 408 of women.
| Year | All | Men | Women | Age-standardised rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 949 | 541 | 408 | 1.5 |
| 2024 | 887 | 500 | 387 | 1.4 |
| 2023 | 916 | 503 | 413 | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 868 | 480 | 388 | 1.4 |
| 2021 | 825 | 451 | 374 | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 849 | 484 | 365 | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 823 | 482 | 341 | 1.4 |
| 2018 | 822 | 445 | 377 | 1.4 |
| 2017 | 873 | 502 | 371 | 1.5 |
| 2016 | 844 | 447 | 397 | 1.5 |
| 2015 | 812 | 470 | 342 | 1.4 |
| 2014 | 822 | 445 | 377 | 1.5 |
| 2013 | 1,041 | 571 | 470 | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 1,066 | 577 | 489 | – |
| 2011 | 1,006 | 571 | 435 | – |
| 2010 | 1,006 | 541 | 465 | – |
| 2009 | 1,016 | 564 | 452 | – |
| 2008 | 1,045 | 611 | 434 | – |
| 2007 | 999 | 562 | 437 | – |
| 2006 | 1,018 | 571 | 447 | – |
| 2005 | 1,061 | 610 | 451 | – |
| 2004 | 980 | 545 | 435 | – |
| 2003 | 1,075 | 592 | 483 | – |
| 2002 | 953 | 559 | 394 | – |
| 2001 | 1,014 | 563 | 451 | – |
Age at death
Of the 949 deaths in 2025 with an age recorded, 28.8% were of people aged 75 or over; the largest number, 310, was in the 15 to 44 age group.
| Age | 2025: all | 2025: men | 2025: women | 2001: all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 46 |
| 15 to 44 | 310 | 215 | 95 | 412 |
| 45 to 64 | 235 | 145 | 90 | 261 |
| 65 to 74 | 110 | 65 | 45 | 101 |
| 75 to 84 | 141 | 55 | 86 | 106 |
| 85 and over | 132 | 51 | 81 | 88 |
Scotland
National Records of Scotland recorded 151 deaths from this cause in 2024 (86 men, 65 women).
Northern Ireland
NISRA's Registrar General figures give 37 deaths from this cause registered in Northern Ireland in 2024, against 35 in 2014.
| Year | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37 | 23 | 14 |
| 2023 | 33 | 12 | 21 |
| 2022 | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| 2021 | 23 | 11 | 12 |
| 2020 | 26 | 18 | 8 |
| 2019 | 26 | 18 | 8 |
| 2018 | 30 | 12 | 18 |
| 2017 | 29 | 18 | 11 |
| 2016 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| 2015 | 39 | 25 | 14 |
| 2014 | 35 | 24 | 11 |
NHS figures for England
People on GP registers (England)
OHID's Fingertips tool gives “Epilepsy: QOF prevalence” (18+ yrs) as 0.8% in England for 2024/25, covering 409,409 patients. The first figure in the series, for 2009/10, was 0.78%.
| Period | Per cent | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 0.8% | 409,409 |
| 2023/24 | 0.81% | 411,009 |
| 2022/23 | 0.8% | 400,781 |
| 2021/22 | 0.79% | 391,476 |
| 2020/21 | 0.8% | 386,381 |
| 2019/20 | 0.8% | 384,519 |
| 2018/19 | 0.79% | 374,163 |
| 2017/18 | 0.8% | 371,195 |
| 2016/17 | 0.8% | 367,723 |
| 2015/16 | 0.8% | 366,944 |
| 2014/15 | 0.79% | 357,096 |
| 2013/14 | 0.78% | 349,898 |
| 2012/13 | 0.78% | 345,140 |
| 2011/12 | 0.78% | 341,322 |
| 2010/11 | 0.77% | 336,509 |
| 2009/10 | 0.78% | 332,001 |
Source: OHID Fingertips, indicator 224 (NHS England) · data read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256 63910f97e450d24c…
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 “Epilepsy and status epilepticus”, codes G40 to G41. Other conditions mentioned on a death certificate are not counted here.
Registration dates, the deaths left out, the age-standardised rate and the ONS's coding changes are explained under how these figures are compiled.
Related answers
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Sources and receipts
ONS mortality extracts for codes G40 to G41, 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
cb9423830ca3f73c…· publisher's page - Mortality statistics - underlying cause, sex and age (NM_161_1)Office for National Statistics (Nomis) · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
543a278eb6961e5f…· publisher's page
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