2023

As at 15 January 2023, 16,568 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).
In the latest week, 101 deaths were registered that mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, 17 more than in the previous week. 

The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in this week was 2,020, which is 450, or 29%, more than the five year average.

Our monthly analysis shows that the age standardised death rate for deaths involving COVID-19 rose in December 2022 (59 per 100,000) compared to November 2022 (40 per 100,000). Throughout the pandemic, the highest rate of COVID-related deaths was 585 per 100,000 people in April 2020. 

Of the 16,455 deaths involving COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2022, 93% (15,383) had at least one pre-existing condition, with the most common being dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. 

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said:

“The latest figures show that last week there were 101 deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This is 17 more than in the previous week.

“Deaths involving influenza have risen in recent weeks. There were 121 deaths where influenza was mentioned on the death certificate in week 2 of this year, up from 91 in the previous week. This is the highest weekly number of flu deaths registered in over twenty years.”

There have been nine deaths in Scotland in which the underlying cause of death was due to the adverse effects of vaccination against COVID-19, and four further deaths where an adverse effect was mentioned on the death certificate. This is no change from the figure reported last month. The latest available statistics show that 4.56 million people in Scotland have received at least one vaccine dose.

The publication Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland is available on the NRS website.

Background

We update the weekly COVID-19 death information in our data and charts spreadsheet and publish a full report and news release on a monthly basis. 

NRS figures include deaths where ‘suspected’ or ‘probable’ COVID-19 appears on the death certificate. 

Data are provisional and subject to change in future weekly publications. The 2022 data will be finalised in summer 2023.

Media enquiries should be directed to:
Donna Green
NRS Communications
Tel: 07775-027-380
Email: [email protected] 

Further information about the statistics is available from:
NRS Customer Services
Email: [email protected] 
 

Files to be opened for the first time by National Records of Scotland will be made available online this week, revealing the content of Scottish Cabinet discussions in 2007.

That year saw the final months of the former Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition led by Jack McConnell and, on 3 May 2007, the election of a new minority SNP administration led by Alex Salmond. 

These records are being made available to the public as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to proactively release records after 15 years.

The Scottish Cabinet records will be publicly accessible free of charge via the NRS ancestry research website ScotlandsPeople from 4 January 2023.

Welcoming the latest release, Minister for Parliamentary Business George Adam said:

“These records are a valuable resource for historians, journalists and anyone with a general interest in both the workings of the Scottish Government and Scotland’s recent history.

“I’m pleased that NRS are making these documents available for the public to view and download for free and the wide range of documents demonstrates our continued commitment to openness and transparency.”

Paul Lowe, Chief Executive of NRS, said:

“The Scottish Cabinet records provide a unique insight into the inner workings of the Scottish Government and the key issues of that time. 

“These fascinating records cover a wide range of important topics, including transport issues such as the Forth Replacement Crossing and the Edinburgh tram line, as well as the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the name change from "Scottish Executive” to “Scottish Government”.

“Their publication is part of NRS’s commitment to making more of our collections accessible online to a much wider audience, wherever you are.”

Background

The list of Scottish Government records released in 2023 can be viewed in PDF. This includes the Scottish Cabinet records available via ScotlandsPeople, and further records only available in our historical search room after General Register House reopens on 4 January following the new year holidays.

Please note that you will need a current reader’s ticket to view files in our search room, and that records will need to be ordered in advance. Details on how to obtain a reader’s ticket and what preparations to make can be found on our website.