Nearly 1,900 homeless people have died in London in 13 years, according to official figures. An estimated 151 people sleeping rough on the capital’s streets, or in emergency or temporary accommodation, passed away last year.
The figure was down from a peak of 201 in 2024 and a total of 1,872 since 2013, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Westminster records highest number of deaths
The highest number of homeless deaths was in Westminster, with 14 in 2025 and 192 over the 13-year period. The joint second highest figure was Lambeth and Camden, both with ten fatalities last year.
In the five years to 2025, 820 homeless people died in the capital, compared to 665 in the five years from 2013. Government ministers have spoken of London’s shame at the level of homelessness on the city’s streets, which they see as they head into the Commons.
Vulnerability and health outcomes
“People experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable in society and often experience significantly worse health outcomes than the wider population,” said David Mais, Head of Mortality Statistics at the ONS. “These statistics help build a clearer picture of the impact of homelessness-related deaths and can support services, charities and policymakers in their efforts to save lives.”
London had the highest number of deaths of homeless people, at 151, followed by the North West (146) and the South East (144). But the fatality rate in the capital was in line with the average for England and Wales at 21.3 deaths per million people. The highest rate in England was in the North West at 25.5, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 24.4 and the East Midlands at 20.9.
Causes of death and broader trends
Accidents were the largest underlying cause of death for homeless people in every year between 2013 and 2025, with an estimated 380 such fatalities in England and Wales last year, or 39% of the 974 total. The 974 figure was 77% higher than the 550 in 2013. Intentional self-harm accounted for 84 deaths, or 8.6%, last year, diseases of the liver 67 or 6.9% and ischaemic heart diseases 55 or 5.6%.
Other cities with a high number of rough sleepers dying were Birmingham, 29, Cardiff 22, Bristol 18, and 17 in Manchester, Southampton, and Brighton and Hove. More than eight out of ten homeless people dying were men. The average age for these individuals passing away was 47.3 for men and 43.2 for women. The Government and Mayor of London Lord Sadiq Khan have launched a series of initiatives to try to reduce rough sleeping.
