End-of-Life Care in the UK: The Data

Most deaths in the UK no longer happen in hospital. In England in 2023, hospital was still the most common single setting at 42.8% of deaths, but the majority (57.2%) took place at home, in a care home, in a hospice or elsewhere (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023 data, published January 2025).

This page gathers the official statistics on how and where people die in the UK, using data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). It then sets out, in general terms, what those patterns can mean for wills, powers of attorney, probate and care fees planning. All figures carry their reference period and a link to the source. Statistics are as published at the dates shown and are subject to revision.

Key figures at a glance

The headline numbers come from two official sources: ONS death registration statistics for England and Wales, and the DHSC palliative and end of life care profiles for England. In 2023 there were 581,363 deaths registered in England and Wales, and the largest single share of deaths in England took place in hospital. Each figure below links to its source and reference period.

Statistic	Figure	Source & period
Deaths registered, England & Wales	581,363	ONS, 2023
Leading cause of death (dementia & Alzheimer's)	66,876 (11.5%)	ONS, 2023
Deaths in hospital, England	42.8% (231,966)	gov.uk / DHSC, 2023
Deaths at home, England	28.4% (154,234)	gov.uk / DHSC, 2023
Deaths in a care home, England	21.0% (113,820)	gov.uk / DHSC, 2023
Deaths in a hospice, England	5.2% (28,065)	gov.uk / DHSC, 2023

Figures as published; ONS registration totals and DHSC place-of-death profiles are periodically revised. The DHSC profiles were most recently updated in February 2026, adding 2024 data through the interactive profiles tool.

Place of death (England)	Share, 2023	Number, 2023
Hospital	42.8%	231,966
Home	28.4%	154,234
Care home	21.0%	113,820
Hospice	5.2%	28,065
Other places	2.6%	Not separately published

How place of death has changed since 2019

Home deaths have risen and stayed higher than before the pandemic. In England, the share of deaths at home was 24.4% in 2019 and 28.4% in 2023, while care home deaths eased slightly from 22.5% to 21.0% and hospice deaths edged down from 5.9% to around 5.2% over the same period (gov.uk / DHSC, 2019 and 2023 data, published January 2025, subject to change).

Place of death (England)	2019	2023
Home	24.4% (120,445)	28.4% (154,234)
Care home	22.5% (111,178)	21.0% (113,820)
Hospice	5.9% (28,968)	5.2% (28,065)

Source: gov.uk / DHSC palliative and end of life care profiles, comparing 2019 and 2023, published January 2025. England only.

The step up in home deaths dates to the pandemic period and has not fully reversed. The DHSC commentary notes that the proportion dying at home in 2023 remained higher than the 24.4% seen in 2019 (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023 data). Whether that pattern continues is something the annual profiles will show; the most recent release added 2024 figures in February 2026.

Place of death varies sharply by age

Where someone dies depends heavily on age. In England in 2023, the share dying at home fell from 37.1% for people under 65 to 22.6% for those aged 85 and over, while the share dying in a care home rose from 2.9% to 35.3% across the same ages, and hospice deaths fell from 8.8% to 2.4% (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023 data, published January 2025, subject to change).

Place of death (England, 2023)	Under 65	85 and over
Home	37.1%	22.6%
Care home	2.9%	35.3%
Hospice	8.8%	2.4%

Source: gov.uk / DHSC palliative and end of life care profiles, 2023 data, published January 2025. England only.

The pattern reflects need: care home deaths become far more common with age, in step with rising frailty and conditions such as dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease was the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2023, at 66,876 deaths, or 11.5% of the total (ONS, 2023).

What the numbers mean for later-life planning

Read together, the figures suggest that later life increasingly plays out at home or in a care home rather than in hospital, which tends to bring finances, capacity and care into focus well before death. With more than half of deaths in England now happening in the community (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023), the practical groundwork often matters more than people expect. The points below are general observations, not advice for any individual.

Capacity can arrive before death. With dementia and Alzheimer's the leading cause of death (ONS, 2023), many people spend a period unable to manage their own affairs. A lasting power of attorney lets someone you trust act on finances or health and care if that happens. It can only be made while you still have capacity.
Care home costs come into play. More than a third of deaths at age 85 and over are in care homes (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023). How care is funded depends on a local-authority financial assessment. This is care fees planning, and it is discussed below and best considered with a qualified adviser.
Probate still follows. Wherever someone dies, their estate usually has to be administered. A clear, up-to-date will and organised records can reduce delay for the people left behind.

Care fees planning and deprivation of assets

Care fees planning means considering, in advance, how later-life care might be funded, and it operates within strict rules. When a local authority assesses someone for help with care costs, it can look at whether assets have been given away or reduced to increase entitlement to funding. If it decides this was a deliberate deprivation of assets, it can treat the person as still owning them. Deliberately giving away assets to reduce care fees can therefore be challenged, so this is an area where many people choose to take advice on limiting or mitigating the impact of care fees rather than acting alone (gov.uk, needs assessment, as at July 2026, subject to change). We are not a firm of solicitors and this is general information, not advice.

How the tax thresholds fit in. Separately from care funding, the inheritance tax nil-rate band is £325,000 per person, with a residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 where a home passes to direct descendants (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). These thresholds are frozen until the end of the 2030-31 tax year (5 April 2031) (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). A fuller walk-through sits in our estate planning guide, and the wider costs that fall on an estate are covered in the cost of dying.

The statistics describe where life ends. The planning decides how much delay, cost and uncertainty sits between that point and the people you leave behind.

None of this guarantees a particular outcome, and the rules and figures change. What the data does suggest is that later-life care, capacity and estate administration are common experiences rather than rare ones, which is why many people choose to put the basic documents in place early. For the process that follows a death, see What Is Probate?

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

The detailed place-of-death profiles used here cover England, and the registration totals cover England and Wales. The other UK nations publish separately: National Records of Scotland reports Scottish deaths, and NISRA reports Northern Ireland deaths, so figures are not always directly comparable. Estate administration also differs: Scotland uses confirmation rather than a grant of probate, and has its own succession law. If an estate touches more than one jurisdiction, it can be worth taking advice in each.

Sources and methodology

Every figure on this page is drawn from a named official source and is quoted with its reference period. Statistics reflect what those sources reported at the dates shown and are periodically revised. This page presents published figures and general commentary; it does not model or estimate beyond what the sources state.

ONS, Death registration summary statistics, England and Wales, 2023. Total deaths registered (581,363) and leading cause of death (dementia and Alzheimer's, 66,876; 11.5%). ons.gov.uk
DHSC / gov.uk, Palliative and end of life care profiles, January 2025 update (2023 data). Place of death shares and counts, comparison with 2019, and variation by age, for England. gov.uk
DHSC / gov.uk, Palliative and end of life care profiles, February 2026 update. Most recent release, adding 2024 data via the interactive profiles tool. gov.uk
gov.uk, Inheritance Tax. Nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band, as at July 2026. gov.uk/inheritance-tax
gov.uk, Get a needs assessment. Local-authority social care assessment, as at July 2026. gov.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where do most people die in the UK?

In England in 2023, hospital was the most common single place of death at 42.8%, followed by home at 28.4%, care homes at 21.0% and hospices at 5.2% (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023). Taken together, the majority of deaths, 57.2%, now happen outside hospital. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own figures separately.

How many people die each year in England and Wales?

There were 581,363 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2023, about 0.7% more than in 2022 and 4.7% above the five-year average (ONS, 2023). Registration totals move year to year and can be revised, so it is worth checking the latest ONS release for current figures.

Has the number of home deaths gone up?

Yes. In England, deaths at home rose from 24.4% in 2019 to 28.4% in 2023 and have stayed above pre-pandemic levels (gov.uk / DHSC, 2019 and 2023). Whether the shift continues is something the annual profiles track; the most recent update added 2024 data in February 2026.

Why does place of death matter for estate planning?

It can highlight practical needs that arise before death. More than a third of deaths at 85 and over are in care homes (gov.uk / DHSC, 2023), which raises questions of care funding and mental capacity. Many people find it can be worth discussing wills, a lasting power of attorney and care fees planning with a qualified professional in good time.

Can I give away assets to avoid care fees?

Not as a deliberate way to reduce a care bill. When a local authority assesses someone for care funding, it can consider whether assets were given away to increase entitlement, and treat them as still owned if it finds deliberate deprivation of assets (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Care fees planning is generally about limiting the impact within the rules, and many people take advice before acting.

What was the leading cause of death?

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease was the leading cause of death in England and Wales in 2023, with 66,876 deaths, or 11.5% of the total (ONS, 2023). Because these conditions can affect capacity, they are one reason many people consider a lasting power of attorney while they are still able to make one.

About Fairchild Oldfield

Fairchild Oldfield are estate planning specialists and will writers. We are not a firm of solicitors and we do not provide reserved legal services.

This article is general information based on published official statistics, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures are as at their stated reference periods and are subject to change.

Important: This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice, and reading it does not create a professional relationship. It is based on the law of England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland differ in important ways. Statistics are quoted with their reference periods, and inheritance tax and care figures are current as at July 2026 and are subject to change. Before acting, many people choose to seek advice from a suitably qualified professional, such as a solicitor, a STEP practitioner, an accountant, or an FCA-authorised financial adviser, who can consider their individual circumstances.