During most of October 2025 we have not received details of death registrations carried out in Shetland. This is due to disruption to processes outwith our control. We expect to receive and process these registrations by mid-November and will revise the numbers of deaths for week 40 onwards.
Key points in this week’s update
The provisional total number of deaths registered in Scotland in week 44 of 2025 (27 October to 02 November) was 1,145. This is 169, or 13%, lower than the expected number of deaths in week 44.
The expected deaths figures have been revised. They now include deaths registered by 31 December 2024, as well as the latest mid-2023 and mid-2024 population estimates.
Changes to methodology for excess deaths
The methodology used to calculate excess deaths changed in February 2024. More information on these changes, including figures comparing the old and new methods, can be found on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website.
The ONS recently announced further developments to the methodology used for calculating excess deaths. This will include accounting for public holidays, refining age groups, better reflecting uncertainty, and more detailed breakdowns of excess deaths. Further information on these planned developments can be found in this blog from the ONS.
