Overall mortality rates in the first quarter of 2026 were lower than in any previous first quarter on record.
This is according to the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) mortality analysis for England and Wales covering death registrations to 27 March 2026.
The findings show there were around 23,600 deaths involving influenza or pneumonia registered in the first quarter of 2026, lower than the range of 26,800 to 31,500 seen in the first quarters of 2023 to 2025.
Deaths recorded in Q1 involving Covid-19 have broadly halved each year, with around 600 deaths recorded involving Covid-19 registered in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 7,700, 3,500 and 1,300 in the first quarters of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Steve Bale, chairman of the CMI Mortality Projections Committee, said: “Record low winter deaths mean that mortality rates in early 2026 are also correspondingly low. Lower flu and pneumonia deaths have contributed to overall mortality rates lower than we have ever seen at this time of year.”
