Overall mortality rates in England and Wales in the first half of 2026 were lower than in any previous first half of the year for males and females, according to the UK’s Continuous Mortality Investigation.
The organisation’s latest update, which covers death registrations to 26 June 2026, shows that there were around 40,300 deaths involving influenza or pneumonia registered in the first half of 2026, lower than the range of 47,700 to 51,500 seen in the first halves of 2023 to 2025, and around 800 deaths recorded in the first half of 2026 as involving COVID-19, compared to 11,700, 5,300 and 2,300 in the first halves of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
“Mortality for the first half of the year is at record lows in 2026 for all age groups considered in the mortality monitor, helped by continuing lower flu and pneumonia deaths,” said Steve Bale FIA C.Act, Chair of the CMI Mortality Projections Committee.
