Cumulatively in 2021 (until 28 March), the total number of doctor-certified deaths (31,363) was higher than the number of cumulative doctor-certified deaths in 2020 (30,900), and higher than the average over 2015–19 (29,752). The weekly number of doctor-certified deaths in March 2021 was higher than in 2020, and above the 2015–19 average. However, age standardised death rates in March were lower than in 2020, and below the 2015–19 average, suggesting that the increase in deaths is driven by a change in the size and age structure of the population.