This report presents statistics on Northern Ireland (NI) alcohol-specific mortality in 2024. Figures are based on deaths registered in NI that are known to have an alcohol-specific cause. Alcohol-specific death statistics are published by NISRA as the number of deaths registered within a calendar year, rather than the number of deaths that occurred in that period. This method ensures annual data do not continuously change; however, it introduces a limitation to the statistics as registration-based figures are affected by delays in procedural systems and processes which can impact annual fluctuations in the series. Annual changes in the numbers of registered deaths should therefore be interpreted with caution and a three-year rolling average has been provided in Figure 1 to smooth out these potential fluctuations.

Occurrence based analysis is provided in Section 7, but as further registrations are processed these figures are subject to change, and care should be taken in using these figures to make comparisons across the time series.

Key points

  • There was a total of 397 alcohol-specific deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2024.
  • Since 2014, Northern Ireland has seen registered deaths due to alcohol-specific causes rise by 81.3% from 219 to 397 in 2024.
  • Over the past ten years, the three-year rolling average for registered alcohol-specific deaths rose from 223.0 between 2012 to 2014 to 364.7 between 2022 to 2024.
  • Considering the trend based on the year of occurrence, for which 2023 is the most reliable year, the three-year rolling average of alcohol-specific deaths rose from 222 in 2014 to 367 in 2023, a series high.
  • The alcohol-specific age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 people was the highest on record in 2024 (21.4), up from 12.9 in 2014.
  • The age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population of alcohol-specific deaths for males was almost twice that of the rate for females (28.1 and 14.9 respectively) in 2024.
  • Almost two-thirds (64.5%) of the 397 deaths registered were male.
  • Alcohol-specific deaths continue to be more prevalent among the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups, which together accounted for 59.4% of all alcohol-specific deaths registered in 2024.
  • Belfast had the highest age-standardised mortality rate for alcohol-specific deaths of all Local Government Districts (LGDs) in Northern Ireland in 2024 (31.1).
  • Between 2020 and 2024, the percentage of alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland’s most deprived areas (36.7%) was almost four times that of the least deprived areas (9.9%).
  • Across the United Kingdom, the most recent year with comparable data is 2023. Scotland and Northern Ireland had the highest alcohol-specific death rates, recording 22.6 and 18.5 deaths per 100,000 respectively. In contrast, England and Wales had lower rates of alcohol-specific deaths, with 15.0 and 17.7 deaths per 100,000 respectively. It should be noted, however, that cross country comparisons may be affected by differences in data collection and collation processes in the separate jurisdictions.


1. Number of Alcohol-Specific Deaths

Registration based statistics (including both the single-year and the three-year average for registered deaths) are subject to variations in the time which lapses between the date of death and the date the coroner has closed the investigation. Every death reported is carefully considered by the coroner and time taken to close an investigation is influenced by several factors specific to each case. These include whether the coroner orders a post-mortem, whether an inquest is required, the complexity of each case, and the number of cases reported to and being investigated by the coroner at any point in time. This means that deaths occurring in the current period may be registered in future registration years. Conversely, when more cases from previous years are concluded, the number of registered deaths can in turn be higher than the number of deaths which occurred. It is therefore important to look at the trend over a longer period of time. Sections 1-6 of this report focus on deaths by date of registration but occurrence based analysis is also included in Section 7.

There has been a general increase in the number of alcohol-specific registered deaths in NI over the past 20 years, from 204 in 2004 to 397 in 2024, an increase of 94.6%.

Figure 1, below, shows the number of alcohol-specific deaths from 2004 to 2024 along with a three-year rolling average from 2006. Looking at the three-year rolling average, the number of alcohol-specific deaths registered between 2022 to 2024 (364.7) has increased by 15.7 (4.5 %) from the 349 registered in 2021 to 2023. The three-year average has been increasing since 2014.

Figure 1: Alcohol-specific deaths by registration year, 2004 to 2024

Chart

Data

Registration year Alcohol-Specific Deaths 3-Year Average Deaths Lower Value 3-Year Average Deaths Upper Value 3-Year Average Deaths
2004 204 191.0 175 204
2005 217 198.7 175 217
2006 210 210.3 204 217
2007 238 221.7 210 238
2008 243 230.3 210 243
2009 249 243.3 238 249
2010 260 250.7 243 260
2011 228 245.7 228 260
2012 244 244.0 228 260
2013 206 226.0 206 244
2014 219 223.0 206 244
2015 282 235.7 206 282
2016 288 263.0 219 288
2017 302 290.7 282 302
2018 284 291.3 284 302
2019 336 307.3 284 336
2020 351 323.7 284 351
2021 350 345.7 336 351
2022 356 352.3 350 356
2023 341 349.0 341 356
2024 397 364.7 341 397


2. Sex and Age

Figure 2 shows the number of alcohol-specific deaths by sex and year of registration between 2004 and 2024. Almost two-thirds (64.5%) of the 397 deaths were male, with the remaining 35.5% female. Males have consistently accounted for more registered deaths each year, than females, accounting for 65.9% of alcohol-specific deaths registered between 2014 and 2024.

Figure 2: Number of alcohol-specific deaths by registration year and sex, 2004 to 2024

Chart

Data

Registration Year All Male Female
2004 204 142 62
2005 217 155 62
2006 210 153 57
2007 238 165 73
2008 243 165 78
2009 249 165 84
2010 260 175 85
2011 228 161 67
2012 244 159 85
2013 206 151 55
2014 219 155 64
2015 282 185 97
2016 288 183 105
2017 302 212 90
2018 284 196 88
2019 336 210 126
2020 351 233 118
2021 350 225 125
2022 356 232 124
2023 341 223 118
2024 397 256 141



Figure 3 illustrates the number of alcohol-specific deaths by age-group in NI for the combined years of 2014 to 2024. Looking across the time series, the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups consistently account for most alcohol-specific deaths (62.9% averaged across the ten year period).

Considering only 2024 these two age groups accounted for 59.4% of all alcohol-specific deaths.


Figure 3: Alcohol-specific deaths by age, 2014 to 2024

Chart

Data

Age Group Number of deaths
25-34 91
35-44 419
45-54 1019
55-64 1187
65-74 604
75 Plus 180
Under 25 6

What is Age-Specific Mortality Rate? This is a measure of the number of deaths to a specified age group scaled to the size of the population of the same age group. In this bulletin, age-specific mortality rates are presented per 100,000 population.


The age-specific mortality rate per 100,000 population was higher for the 55-64 and 65-74 age groups (56.4 and 45.8, respectively) compared to the 25-34 age group (5.0). (see Table 2 in the accompanying spreadsheet).

Trends in alcohol-specific deaths by sex can be compared by removing potential impact of the age profile of each sex through standardising for age.


What are Age-Standardised Mortality Rates (ASMRs)? Mortality rates generally increase with age. A population with a greater proportion of older people is expected to have more deaths per population. Age-standardised mortality rates adjust for differences in the age structure of populations and therefore allow valid comparisons to be made between geographical areas, the sexes and over time. In this bulletin, age-standardised mortality rates are presented per 100,000 people and standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population.


Figure 4 shows the age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) by sex for alcohol-specific deaths from 2004 to 2024. The ASMR for males in 2024 was 28.1, almost double the rate for females, which was 14.9 deaths per 100,000 population. Between 2014 and 2024 the alcohol-specific ASMR increased by 51.1% for males, from 18.6 per 100,000 to 28.1 per 100,000. While rates for females are lower, the proportionate increase has been higher, from 7.3 per 100,000 in 2014 to 14.9 per 100,000 in 2024, a rise of 104.1%.

Figure 4: Age-Standardised Mortality Rate (ASMR) of alcohol-specific deaths by sex, 2004 to 2024

Chart

Data

Year Male Female All Persons
2004 19.3 8.1 13.5
2005 20.7 8.0 14.2
2006 20.6 7.2 13.6
2007 21.5 8.9 15.0
2008 21.9 9.7 15.6
2009 21.2 10.2 15.5
2010 22.1 10.1 16.0
2011 20.3 7.8 13.9
2012 19.7 9.9 14.6
2013 18.2 6.4 12.2
2014 18.6 7.3 12.9
2015 21.9 11.0 16.3
2016 21.9 11.8 16.6
2017 24.7 10.0 17.2
2018 22.5 9.6 15.9
2019 23.9 13.6 18.7
2020 26.5 12.8 19.4
2021 25.3 13.4 19.1
2022 26.1 13.2 19.5
2023 24.7 12.5 18.5
2024 28.1 14.9 21.4

3. Cause of death (ICD-10 code)

Since 2014 alcoholic fatty liver diseases have accounted for around two thirds of alcohol-specific deaths each year (68.5% in 2014) (Figure 5). Of the 397 alcohol-specific deaths registered in 2024, 64.7% had an underlying cause of alcohol fatty liver disease.

Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol has consistently been the second most common cause of death among alcohol-specific deaths in NI. In 2024, 15.4% of alcohol deaths were due to this cause.

Figure 5: Proportion of alcohol-specific deaths by underlying cause of death, 2014 & 2024

Chart

Data

Final ICD Code Registration Year Proportion of Alcohol-specific deaths
Alcoholic liver disease (K70) 2014 68.5
Alcoholic liver disease (K70) 2024 64.7
Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol (F10) 2014 12.3
Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol (F10) 2024 15.4
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (X45) 2014 16.4
Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol (X45) 2024 15.1
Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol or poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent (X65, Y15) 2024 0.5
All other alcohol-specific deaths (E24.4, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K85.2, Q86.0, R78.0, K86.0) 2014 2.7
All other alcohol-specific deaths (E24.4, G31.2, G62.1, G72.1, I42.6, K29.2, K85.2, Q86.0, R78.0, K86.0) 2024 4.3


While alcoholic fatty liver diseases remains the dominant cause of death, mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol and all other alcohol-specific deaths increased their shares from 12.3% to 15.4% and from 2.7% to 4.3% respectively, suggesting a possible shift in alcohol misuse.


4. Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT)

Mid-year population estimates for 2024 by HSCT are currently unavailable; it has therefore not been possible to produce ASMRs for HSCT.

Figure 6 shows that, in 2024, of the five Health and Social Care Trusts, the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths was in Belfast Trust (97). This was followed by the Northern Trust (85), Southern Trust (76), and South Eastern Trust (76). The Western Trust had the lowest number of alcohol deaths in 2024 at 63.

Figure 6: Number of alcohol-specific deaths in NI by Health Trust, 2024

Chart

Data

Health and Social Care Trust Registration Year Number of Deaths Registered
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust 2024 97
Northern Health and Social Care Trust 2024 85
Western Health and Social Care Trust 2024 63
Southern Health and Social Care Trust 2024 76
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust 2024 76

5. Local Government District (LGD)

As with 2023, Belfast LGD had the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2024 (96). This accounted for approximately a quarter (24.2%) of all alcohol-specific deaths. Indeed, since 2014 Belfast has consistently had the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths.

Also consistent with 2023, Fermanagh and Omagh had the lowest number at 15, or 3.8% of the total alcohol-specific deaths.

In terms of mortality rates per 100,000 population (adjusted for age), over the last ten years (with the exception of 2021 and 2023), Belfast LGD has also consistently had the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths. In 2024, the highest alcohol-specific death rate was again Belfast LGD at 31.1 alcohol-specific deaths per 100,000, followed by Derry City & Strabane at 25.6. The lowest rate in 2024 was recorded for Mid Ulster at 12.0 alcohol-specific deaths per 100,000.

Figure 7: Map of NI showing alcohol-specific death rates by Local Government District, 2024

Chart

Data

Local Government District Registration Year Alcohol-specific death rate per 100,000
Antrim and Newtownabbey 2024 23.3
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 2024 24.9
Belfast 2024 31.1
Causeway Coast and Glens 2024 16.2
Derry City and Strabane 2024 25.6
Fermanagh and Omagh 2024 13.1
Lisburn and Castlereagh 2024 17.8
Mid and East Antrim 2024 20.2
Mid Ulster 2024 12.0
Newry, Mourne and Down 2024 16.9
Ards and North Down 2024 19.8

6. Multiple Deprivation Measure (MDM)

The most deprived areas in Northern Ireland experienced the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths at 658 (36.7%) in the last 5 years (2020 to 2024), compared with 177 (9.9%) in the least deprived areas.

This compares to the figures presented in the 2023 report, where 37.6% of alcohol-specific deaths in the previous 5 years were in the most deprived areas and 9.8% were in the least deprived areas.

Figure 8: Percentage of alcohol-specific deaths by NI Multiple Deprivation Measure Quintile (2017), 2020 to 2024

Chart

Data

NI MDM Quintile (2017) Percentage of Alcohol Related Deaths
Quintile 1 - Most Deprived 36.7
Quintile 2 21.3
Quintile 3 18.4
Quintile 4 13.8
Quintile 5 - Least Deprived 9.9

7. Age-standardised Mortality Rates by UK Country

In 2023, the latest year for which comparable data exists across the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland had the highest alcohol-specific death rates with 22.6 and 18.5 deaths per 100,000, respectively. England and Wales continued to have lower rates of alcohol-specific deaths, with 15 and 17.7 deaths per 100,000, in 2023 respectively.

Figure 9: Age-Standardised alcohol-specific mortality rates by country, 2004 to 2023

Chart

Data

Year ASMR Northern Ireland ASMR England ASMR Scotland ASMR Wales
2004 13.5 9.8 27.3 11.3
2005 14.2 10.1 27.6 11.2
2006 13.6 10.5 28.5 11.8
2007 15.0 10.6 25.5 12.8
2008 15.6 11.1 25.9 14.6
2009 15.5 10.4 23.0 12.9
2010 16.0 10.6 22.8 13.1
2011 13.9 10.9 21.9 12.4
2012 14.6 10.0 18.4 13.5
2013 12.2 10.2 18.9 12.7
2014 12.9 10.5 19.4 11.5
2015 16.3 10.3 19.4 11.9
2016 16.6 10.5 21.0 12.8
2017 17.2 11.1 20.4 13.6
2018 15.9 10.7 20.7 13.2
2019 18.7 10.8 18.5 11.9
2020 19.4 13.0 21.4 14.0
2021 19.1 13.9 22.2 15.1
2022 19.5 14.5 22.6 15.4
2023 18.5 15.0 22.6 17.7

8. Occurence Year Analysis

A death which is accidental, unexpected, or suspicious, such as an alcohol-specific death, must be referred to the coroner and can only be registered after the coroner has completed their investigation. Registration of an alcohol-specific death can therefore take months or even years.

NISRA is only notified that a death has occurred once it is registered with the General Register Office (GRO) and a significant number of alcohol deaths registered in any year will have occurred in earlier years. For example, of the 397 such deaths registered in 2024, 293 occurred in 2024, 86 in 2023 with the remaining 18 occurring in 2022 or earlier.

Alcohol-specific death statistics and mortality statistics more generally are published by NISRA as the number of deaths registered within a calendar year, as opposed to the number of deaths that occurred in that period. This method ensures data is less likely to change over time; however, it also introduces some limitations to the statistics as they can be impacted by delays in procedural systems and do not enable occurrence-based analyses, which may be important in informing operational and policy responses.

While annual data based on the date of occurrence are accurate if enough time has lapsed, for more recent years they will be incomplete as more registrations will follow. Most alcohol-specific deaths (97 per cent) are registered within one year of the death occurring.

Figure 10 presents a comparison of the number of alcohol deaths registered in Northern Ireland over time along with the number occurring. Annual fluctuations are expected between these two series, given the median time from death to registration is constantly changing. Users are therefore cautioned against drawing inferences based on 1-year changes. Information is presented in Figure 11 on occurrence trends based on a ‘3-year rolling average’ approach.

Figure 10: Number of alcohol-specific deaths in NI by registration & occurrence year, 2014 to 2024

Chart

Data

Year Registration Year Occurence Year
2014 219 223
2015 282 298
2016 288 296
2017 302 292
2018 284 289
2019 336 333
2020 351 356
2021 350 373
2022 356 359
2023 341 368
2024 397 344


Figure 11: Number of alcohol-specific deaths (three-year rolling average) in NI by occurrence year, 2014 to 2024

Chart

Data

Year of Occurance 3-Year Average Deaths Lower Value 3-Year Average Deaths Upper Value 3-Year Average Deaths
2014 222 202 241
2015 241 202 298
2016 272 223 298
2017 295 292 298
2018 292 289 296
2019 305 289 333
2020 326 289 356
2021 354 333 373
2022 363 356 373
2023 367 359 373
2024 357 344 368

9. Definitions and Further Information

General Information

The annual Alcohol-Specific Deaths, Northern Ireland release presents statistics on the most recent official death registration data available on alcohol-specific mortality across Northern Ireland (NI). Alcohol death figures were first published in Northern Ireland in 2001. Figures in this release relate to deaths registered in Northern Ireland that are known to be direct consequences of alcohol misuse.

Accompanying tables

Data accompanying this bulletin are available from the NISRA website (opens in a new tab) in Excel (.xlsx) format.

Methodology

The methodology for selecting alcohol-specific deaths was revised following a consultation led by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2017. The consultation and resulting methodology for identifying alcohol-specific deaths in the UK is described in the Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK QMI (opens in a new tab) produced by ONS.

NISRA have also published an Information paper (opens in a new tab) on the quality and production of statistics on alcohol-specific deaths in Northern Ireland.

Definitions

Accredited Official Statistics definition of Alcohol-specific deaths

The definition of alcohol-specific deaths includes any death that has an underlying cause listed below.

ICD-10 code Description of condition
E24.4 Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome
F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
G31.2 Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol
G62.1 Alcoholic polyneuropathy
G72.1 Alcoholic myopathy
I42.6 Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
K29.2 Alcoholic gastritis
K70 Alcoholic liver disease
K85.2 Alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis
K86.0 Alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis
Q86.0 Fetal induced alcohol syndrome (dysmorphic)
R78.0 Excess alcohol blood levels
X45 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
X65 Intentional self-poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
Y15 Poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, undetermined intent

Notes

  1. The definition agreed following a 2017 user consultation includes conditions that are wholly attributable to alcohol, based on codes from the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision; ICD-10)

The current definition has been applied to previous years to allow presentation of the current series on a consistent basis. However, historical statistics using the former methodology are also available on the NISRA website (opens in a new tab) .

Populations

On 29 June 2023 NISRA published the rebased population and migration estimates Northern Ireland (2011-2021) (opens in a new tab) . This statistical report provided updated population estimates from mid-2011 to mid-2021, based on the results of Census 2021. The death rates in this report are based on the updated population estimates.

ICD

The International Classification of Diseases is the standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes. It is used to classify diseases and other health problems recorded on many types of health and vital records including death certificates and health records. In addition to enabling the storage and retrieval of diagnostic information for clinical, epidemiological and quality purposes, these records also provide the basis for the compilation of national mortality and morbidity statistics by WHO member states. It is used for reimbursement and resource allocation decision-making by countries. We have been using the 10th revision since 2001.

Underlying cause

Underlying cause of death is the disease or injury that initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence that produced the fatal injury.

MDM

The Measure of Multiple Deprivation in Northern Ireland (MDMNI) for 2017. Northern Ireland is split into 890 spatial areas known as Super Output Areas (SOAs), with an average population of around 2,100 people. Distinct types, or domains, of deprivation are made up from one or more indicators. The 7 domains of deprivation are: • Income Deprivation Domain • Employment Deprivation Domain • Health Deprivation & Disability Domain • Education, Skills & Training Deprivation Domain • Access to Services Domain • Living Environment Domain • Crime & Disorder Domain The indicators in each domain were analysed to produce a domain specific deprivation ranking of the 890 SOAs in Northern Ireland, from 1 (most deprived) to 890 (least deprived). The ranks of the 7 domains were weighted and combined, to provide a ranking of multiple deprivation (MDM) for the 890 SOAs. More information on the 2017 MDMNI is available from the NISRA website (opens in a new tab) .

Quintile

The 890 SOAs have been divided in 5 even groups, or quintiles, according to their MDM ranks, with quintile 1 representing the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.

Age-Specific mortality rate

This crude rate is calculated by dividing the number of deaths of a specified age group by the population of the same age group and multiplying by 100,000 population.

Age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs)

Age-standardised mortality rates adjust for differences in the age structure of populations and therefore allow valid comparisons to be made between, for example, geographical areas, the sexes and over time. In this bulletin, age-standardised mortality rates are presented per 100,000 people and standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population.

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Accredited Official Statistics Status

Accredited Official Statistics are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) and confirmed to comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Producers of accredited official statistics are legally required to ensure they maintain compliance with the Code. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

These official statistics were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in April 2012 following a full assessment of Demography and Vital Events Statistics for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab) against the Code of Practice for Statistics (opens in a new tab) . They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and are therefore labelled as accredited official statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. For further information, please refer to the Office for Statistics Regulation accredited official statistics (opens in a new tab) webpage.

As outlined above, our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards using the details in Section 6.

Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing or via the OSR website (opens in a new tab) .