Coroners statistics 2024: England and Wales - GOV.UK08/05/2025

Coroners statistics 2024: England and Wales - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coroners-statistics-2024

Main Points

Decrease in the number of deaths reported to coroners in 2024 -174,900 deaths were reported to coroners in 2024, the lowest level since the start of the annual time series in 1995 – down 10% (from 195,000) compared to 2023.

31% of all registered deaths were reported to coroners in 2024 - The proportion of registered deaths in England and Wales has decreased by three percentage points compared to 2023.

Deaths in state detention, up 11% in the last year - 546 deaths in state detention (including deaths of those released from custody within 7 days and residents of probation approved schemes) were reported to coroners in 2024 (up from 492 in 2023), the increase was driven by a 16% rise in deaths of those in prison custody.

Post-mortem examinations were carried out in 46% of all deaths reported in 2024 - There were 81,200 post-mortem examinations ordered by coroners in 2024, a 6% fall compared to 2023. The proportion of reported deaths requiring a post-mortem increased by two percentage points over the same period.

1% fewer inquests opened in 2024 - 36,700 inquests were opened in 2024, down 1% (from 36,900) compared to 2023. As a proportion of deaths reported, inquests opened is at its highest level since the start of the annual time series in 1995, at 21%.

Inquest conclusions remained stable In 2024 -  39,600 inquest conclusions were recorded in total, stable compared to 2023. Excluding unclassified conclusions, road traffic collisions had the largest increase, up 6% on 2023, to 934 inquest conclusions in 2024. Natural causes had the largest decrease, down 13% on 2023, to 4,900 inquest conclusions in 2024.

Average time taken to complete an inquest reduced slightly - The estimated average time taken to process an inquest decreased from 31.5 weeks in 2023 to 31.2 weeks in 2024.

Prevention of Future Deaths reports up by 25% - 713 Prevention of Future Deaths reports were issued in 2024, an increase of 25% compared to 2023.

This annual publication presents statistics of deaths reported to Coroners in England and Wales in 2024. Information is provided on the number of deaths reported to coroners, post-mortem examinations and inquests held, and conclusions recorded at inquests. A map reference of Coroner areas in England and Wales is available in the supporting document published alongside this bulletin. For previous editions of this report please see: www.gov.uk/government/collections/coroners-and-burials-statistics.