One in four people in Scotland die an avoidable death, according to National Records of Scotland.
In 2023, Scotland saw 16,548 avoidable deaths. The figure is higher than before the pandemic which ended a downward trend since 2001.
An avoidable death is one which is considered preventable or treatable. That might be through public health changes like banning smoking in public places or through healthcare like new treatments.
The leading cause of avoidable mortality remained cancer, despite the rate steadily decreasing over time, followed by diseases of the circulatory system.
Nearly one in six avoidable deaths were alcohol or drug-related. Avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related causes have risen over the past decade. The rate of avoidable deaths from alcohol and drug-related causes in 2023 was the third highest since 2001. Only 2020 and 2021 recorded higher levels.
People in the most deprived communities are four times as likely to die from an avoidable cause as those in the least deprived areas. Males have higher avoidable mortality rates than females.
Stefania Sechi, Assistant Statistician at NRS, said:
“The rate of avoidable deaths decreased over most years from 2001. They increased suddenly during the pandemic. They came back down afterwards but the rate of avoidable mortality is still higher than before the coronavirus pandemic.
“Alcohol and drug-related avoidable deaths are at their third highest level since 2001. These causes are more likely in deprived areas and more likely in males. These deaths are all classed as avoidable.”
There is regional variation within Scotland. Last year the highest rates of avoidable deaths were in Glasgow City, while East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire recorded the lowest.
Scotland’s avoidable death rate is higher than that in England and Wales.
Background
1. National Records of Scotland (NRS) is responsible for producing statistics on Scotland’s population.
2. The full publication ‘Avoidable Mortality in Scotland, 2023’, including tables with information broken down by age-group, sex, cause of death, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile, NHS Board and Local Authority, can be viewed online.
3. Avoidable mortality data for 2001 to 2021 have been corrected following identification of three small errors. The mortality rates have also been updated to incorporate the rebased population estimates following the 2022 Census. These revisions have a small impact on historic data but do not change the overall trends. The latest figures may therefore differ from those previously published.
4. ‘Avoidable mortality’ are deaths which are considered either preventable or treatable through public health or healthcare interventions. The term ‘avoidable mortality’ is based on an international definition by the OECD/Eurostat and looks only at deaths under the age of 75.
5. When discussing avoidable deaths, the following terms are used:
Preventable mortality – a cause of death that can be mainly avoided through effective public health and primary prevention interventions.
Treatable mortality – a cause of death that can be mainly avoided through timely and effective healthcare interventions, including secondary prevention and treatment.
Avoidable mortality – deaths defined as either preventable or treatable.
6. Statistics on deaths and causes of death registered in 2024 will be published later in 2025.
