Leading causes of death in Scotland

The leading causes of death in 2017 were:

1. Ischaemic heart disease: 6,727 (11.6%)
2. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: 6,549 (11.3%)
3. Lung cancer: 4,069 (7.0%)
4. Cerebrovascular disease (including stroke): 3,927 (6.8%)
5. Chronic lower respiratory diseases (eg bronchitis and emphysema): 3,449 (6.0%)

This is from Section 6: Deaths - Causes of the Vital Events Reference Tables 2017. They contain more detailed information on Causes of Death, Adoptions, Births, Still Births, Beaths and Marriages. These will be updated every June.

Further statistics on deaths

Deaths from various causes, such as alcohol, drugs and suicides: Vital Events - Deaths
Trends in mortality: Age-standardised Death Rates
How causes of death are recorded: Death Certificates and Coding the Causes of Death

Other Statistics

Life expectancy in Scotland
Births in Scotland
All statistics that we produce

Enquiries and Suggestions

Please contact our Statistics Customer Services if you need any further information.
E-mail: statisticscustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk