Cot Death Facts and Figures
• Around 290 babies still die every year as cot deaths in the UK
• FSID’s definition of cot death:
Cot death is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason. The post
mortem examination may explain some deaths. Those that remain unexplained after post mortem
examination may be registered as sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden infant death,
sudden unexpected death in infancy, unascertained or cot death.
• Cot deaths in the UK* (babies aged birth to one year):
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
England & Wales
254
283
287
273
285
325
317
315
298
330
334
Scotland
26
24
22
31
29
20
31
44
34
35
35
N. Ireland
7
13
9
10
11
10
17
5
4
12
5
UK Total
287
320
318
314
325
355
365
364
336
377
374
UK rate (per 1000 live births)
0.36
0.40
0.40
0.41
0.43
0.49
0.51
0.52
0.5
0.56
0.55
• Cot deaths among babies aged over 12 months:
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
England & Wales
16
18
8
19
16
16
19
11
18
30
17
Scotland
3
2
2
0
3
1
3
1
1
0
2
N. Ireland
0
1
0
4
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
Total
19
21
10
23
19
18
23
14
19
30
19
The majority of cot deaths occur
in babies aged under one year. In
the UK in 2010 6.2 % of cot deaths
were amongst babies over one year.
* The Office of National Statistics (ONS), General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) each collect their cot death
figures slightly differently. NISRA includes deaths certified as Bronchopneumonia (ICD10 J18.0) and Interstitial pneumonia (ICD10 J84.9) in its cot death statistics
Note: The statistics below are reproduced from ONS publications and relate (unless otherwise stated) to babies in England and Wales aged birth to one year, and include those whose
deaths were certified as ‘unascertained’. More information can be found at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/child-health/unexplained-deaths-in-infancy--england-and-wales/2010/index.html
England & Wales 2010
• The unexplained infant death rate for boys was 0.40 per 1000 live births, which accounted for 59 percent
of unexplained infant deaths. The rate for girls was 0.30 per 1000 live births.
• More than a third of unexplained infant deaths (34%) occurred over the winter period (December to
February) while just over a fifth (21%) occurred during the summer (June to August).
• London had the lowest rate of unexplained infant deaths at 0.21 deaths per 1,000 while the North West
had the highest rate of 0.53 deaths per 1,000
• 72% of all unexplained deaths occurred in babies aged less than 4 months.
• In 2010, babies born with a low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams) were over 4 times more likely to die
as a cot death than babies born with a normal birthweight (2,500 grams and over).
• Mothers under 20 were 3.4 times more likely to have a cot death.
• In 2010 the unexplained infant death rate was lowest for those babies whose fathers were in the
managerial and professional group*.
* Details of the father’s occupation are only recorded where the birth is inside marriage or is jointly registered by both parents outside marriage.
1991-2010
• Since the launch of the Reduce the Risk campaign in England and Wales in 1991, the sudden infant death
number has fallen by around 70%.
• Cot deaths by Government Office region, 2010 England and Wales:
No
Rate
Rate
04-10
England
&
Wales
254
0.36
0.42
North North Yorkshire
East
West
East of London
East
West & Humber Midlands Midlands England
South
East
South Wales
West
11
0.36
47
0.53
26
0.39
14
0.25
33
0.46
23
0.32
28
0.21
29
0.27
25
0.42
18
0.50
0.52
0.61
0.44
0.44
0.44
0.31
0.33
0.34
0.43
0.60
Last updated August 2012
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths
11 Belgrave Road, London SW1V 1RB
Tel 020 7802 3200 www.fsid.org.uk [email protected]
Registered charity number:262191