Multiple sclerosis deaths in the UK
The Office for National Statistics recorded 1,402 deaths in England and Wales in 2025 where the underlying cause was Multiple sclerosis (ICD-10 G35). That was 71 more than in 2024 (1,331). Since 2001 the yearly figure has ranged from 887 (2001) to 1,474 (2023).
Deaths each year in England and Wales
Taking account of the population's size and age, the ONS age-standardised death rate was 2.3 per 100,000 people in 2025, 9.5% higher than in 2013 (2.1). For men it was 1.7 and for women 2.8.
Men accounted for 499 of the 2025 deaths and women for 903.
| Year | All | Men | Women | Age-standardised rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,402 | 499 | 903 | 2.3 |
| 2024 | 1,331 | 453 | 878 | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 1,474 | 531 | 943 | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 1,395 | 497 | 898 | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 1,241 | 429 | 812 | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 1,346 | 489 | 857 | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 1,370 | 494 | 876 | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 1,372 | 490 | 882 | 2.5 |
| 2017 | 1,328 | 485 | 843 | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 1,320 | 449 | 871 | 2.4 |
| 2015 | 1,295 | 457 | 838 | 2.4 |
| 2014 | 1,202 | 415 | 787 | 2.3 |
| 2013 | 1,100 | 373 | 727 | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 1,218 | 439 | 779 | – |
| 2011 | 1,062 | 388 | 674 | – |
| 2010 | 1,004 | 354 | 650 | – |
| 2009 | 1,012 | 339 | 673 | – |
| 2008 | 1,050 | 369 | 681 | – |
| 2007 | 1,002 | 375 | 627 | – |
| 2006 | 933 | 308 | 625 | – |
| 2005 | 963 | 350 | 613 | – |
| 2004 | 887 | 301 | 586 | – |
| 2003 | 999 | 335 | 664 | – |
| 2002 | 923 | 321 | 602 | – |
| 2001 | 887 | 296 | 591 | – |
Age at death
Of the 1,402 deaths in 2025 with an age recorded, 38.9% were of people aged 75 or over; the largest number, 446, was in the 65 to 74 age group.
| Age | 2025: all | 2025: men | 2025: women | 2001: all |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 to 44 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 102 |
| 45 to 64 | 390 | 155 | 235 | 400 |
| 65 to 74 | 446 | 164 | 282 | 219 |
| 75 to 84 | 423 | 151 | 272 | 141 |
| 85 and over | 123 | 24 | 99 | 25 |
Scotland
National Records of Scotland recorded 184 deaths from this cause in 2024 (52 men, 132 women).
Northern Ireland
NISRA's Registrar General figures give 47 deaths from this cause registered in Northern Ireland in 2024, against 40 in 2014.
| Year | All | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47 | 19 | 28 |
| 2023 | 41 | 11 | 30 |
| 2022 | 49 | 18 | 31 |
| 2021 | 42 | 15 | 27 |
| 2020 | 45 | 17 | 28 |
| 2019 | 35 | 13 | 22 |
| 2018 | 58 | 26 | 32 |
| 2017 | 48 | 13 | 35 |
| 2016 | 55 | 22 | 33 |
| 2015 | 56 | 14 | 42 |
| 2014 | 40 | 17 | 23 |
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 “Multiple sclerosis”, codes G35. 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.
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Sources and receipts
ONS mortality extracts for codes G35, 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
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