National Statistical

Sociodemographic inequalities of dying by suicide

Dr Isobel Ward
March 6, 2023

Categories: Census, Health, Population, Research

Reducing the number of people who die by suicide is of paramount importance. Every death from suicide is a tragedy, and behind every statistic is an individual, a family, and a community devastated by their loss. Today we have produced analysis estimating the rates of suicide by sociodemographic characteristics to understand which groups of people are at the highest risk. Here, Isobel Ward explains the research and why it is so important.

Revolutionising administrative data: a look into the future of population and migration statistics

Jen Woolford
February 28, 2023

Categories: Census, migration, Office for National Statistics, Population

Crowds of people walking through a busy street

Census 2021 has delivered a wealth of insight over recent months and will soon embark on an innovative new ‘open source’ phase. In addition, the Office for National Statistics is evolving to deliver more frequent, timely and relevant population statistics to better meet user needs. Underpinned by a suite of research and evidence, this year will see a call for views on our ambitious work. Here, Jen Woolford explains what’s coming in 2023.

The ‘R’ Word: What exactly is a ‘recession’ anyway?

Statistically Speaking
February 20, 2023

Categories: Business, Economy, Environment, Public Policy, Recession, Wellbeing

News headlines this month proclaimed the UK has ‘narrowly avoided recession’. In ‘Recessions, GDP and Beyond’, the latest episode of our ‘Statistically Speaking’ podcast, we decode the ‘r’ word and explain why this sometimes misleading term is one the ONS is often cautious to avoid.

How many people have had COVID-19? The challenge of reinfections

Leanne Massie
February 15, 2023

Categories: Coronavirus, Data, Health, Office for National Statistics, ONS, Population

Since the appearance of Omicron variants in December 2021, the number of people being reinfected with COVID-19 has increased markedly. As Leanne Massie explains, this affects our ability to estimate the total number of people who have had COVID-19 at least once.

How do we measure expected and excess deaths?

Sarah Caul
February 10, 2023

Categories: Coronavirus, Health, Office for National Statistics, ONS, Population, Research, Wellbeing

There has been widespread interest in the number of excess deaths across the UK. That is, the difference between the actual number of deaths observed and the number that was expected. But how do you calculate the expected number of deaths? Sarah Caul explains a new cross-UK initiative to take stock of how we calculate expected, and excess, deaths. 