For more information, see the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Quality and methodology information. Rates are calculated based on where the death was registered, rather than where the deceased was resident. Mortality rates are calculated as the total number of deaths registered in a calendar year divided by the mid-year population estimate for the respective year. However, it is worth noting that data for Scotland includes deaths of non-residents, which are excluded for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2019, Scotland had the highest avoidable mortality rate at 308 deaths per 100,000 population, and England had the lowest rate at 221 deaths per 100,000 population. The same trend is seen for both treatable and preventable mortality rates.Īvoidable mortality rates vary across the four countries of the UK. As with all-cause mortality rates, avoidable mortality rates decreased steadily until 2011, after which improvements stalled. Of these, 64% were preventable and the remaining 36% were considered treatable. In 2019, approximately 22% of deaths in the UK were considered avoidable. Treatable (or amenable) mortality is defined as deaths that can be mainly avoided through timely and effective healthcare interventions, including secondary prevention and treatment. Preventable mortality is defined as deaths that can be mainly avoided through effective public health and primary prevention interventions. In 2019, the OECD developed an internationally recognised definition of avoidable mortality, which can be split into preventable mortality and treatable mortality.

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