My account

Stable start to 2025 mortality, says CMI

9 April 2025

The Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) publishes frequent mortality analysis for England & Wales through its mortality monitors. Today’s updates cover the period to 28 March 2025. 

The key points are:    

  • Mortality in the first quarter of 2025 was similar to that seen in the first quarter of 2024 and consistent with the record low mortality observed in 2024 as a whole. 
  • There were around 28,300 deaths involving influenza registered in the first quarter of 2025, compared to around 26,800 in the first quarter of 2024 and 31,500 in the first quarter of 2023.
  • There were around 1,200 deaths involving COVID-19 registered in the first quarter of 2025, compared to around 3,500 in the first quarter of 2024 and 7,700 in the first quarter of 2023.
  • There remains some uncertainty regarding the impact of registration delays linked to the impact of the 9 September 2024 certification reforms. 

Cobus Daneel, Chair of the CMI Mortality Projections Committee, said: “Despite ongoing pressures on the healthcare sector, death registrations during the first quarter of 2025 remained relatively low. However, changes to death registration rules make year-on-year comparisons more challenging than usual.” 

All mortality monitor updates are publicly available on the mortality monitor page.

~ENDS~

Notes to editors

1. The CMI publishes mortality monitors regularly:

  • We publish a summary monitor monthly, every four or five weeks, without a press release. The next is planned for week 18 of 2025 on Wednesday 14 May 2025.
  • Each quarter we publish more detail, accompanied by a press release. The next is planned for the end of the second quarter of 2025, in July 2025. 

2. Death certification reforms were implemented on 9 September 2024:

  • Following the reforms, the five-day period for registering a death starts on the date that the registrar receives a signed medical certificate of cause of death from the medical examiner, or relevant notification from the coroner. 
  • Previously, deaths should legally have been registered within five days of the death occurring or the date on which a body was found (including weekends and bank holidays), unless a coroner was involved. 

 

Contact

Sonia Sequeira, Communications Lead, IFoA 
Tel: 07525 592198 
Email: sonia.sequeira@actuaries.org.uk 

 

About the Continuous Mortality Investigation

Continuous Mortality Investigation Limited (‘the CMI’) is wholly owned by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries but has an independent executive and management.

The CMI’s mission is to produce high-quality impartial analysis, standard tables and models of mortality and morbidity for long-term insurance products and pension scheme liabilities on behalf of subscribers and, in doing so, to further actuarial understanding.

 

About the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries 

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) is a royal chartered, not-for-profit, professional body.  

Research undertaken by the IFoA is not commercial.  As a learned society, research helps us to fulfil our royal charter requirements to further actuarial science and serve the public interest.   

Actuaries provide commercial, financial and prudential advice on the management of a business’s assets and liabilities, especially where long term management and planning are critical to the success of any business venture. They also advise individuals, and advise on social and public interest issues. 

Members of the IFoA have a statutory role in the supervision of pension funds and life insurance companies. They also have a statutory role to provide actuarial opinions for managing agents at Lloyd’s of London. 

Members are governed by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. A rigorous examination system is supported by a programme of continuing professional development and a professional code of conduct supports high standards reflecting the significant role of actuaries in society. 

The IFoA is available to provide independent expert comment to the media on a range of actuarial-related issues, including COVID-19 and its long term consequences, mortality, pensions, life and general insurance, health and care, finance and investment, climate change and sustainability, systems thinking, uncertainty and judgement, and risk management.