The rate of stillbirth in England and Wales was unchanged overall in 2023 compared with the previous year, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Across the two nations together, the rate remained at 4 per 1,000 births – the same as in 2022 but higher than in 2020 and 2019.
However, the figures for Wales alone show a drop from 4.4 to 4 per 1,000, after a decade in which the country’s stillbirth rate has been significantly higher than that in the rest of the UK.
The ONS data highlight continuing and in some cases growing disparities between rates of stillbirth among different groups.
Among those living in the most deprived areas of England, the stillbirth rate was 5.1 per 1,000, compared with 2.9 per 1,000 in the least deprived areas – a widening of the gap compared with 2022.
There was also a significant increase in the rate of stillbirth among babies of Asian ethnicity in England and Wales, from 4.7 per 1,000 in 2022 to 5.2 per 1,000 in 2023.
Across England and Wales there was a slight reduction in the stillbirth rate among Black babies, but at 6.3 stillbirths per 1,000 births this remains nearly twice as high as the rate among White babies.
The proportion of babies born preterm (before 37 weeks and after 24 weeks of pregnancy) rose in England from 7.7% in 2022 to 7.8% last year, despite an ambition set by the last government to reduce the rate to 6% by 2025.
Robert Wilson, Head of the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, said:
"Today's ONS data show that progress is not being made to reduce the stillbirth rate in England, which remains at the same level as it was in 2022 and higher than it was in 2019 and 2020.
“The government ambition in England to achieve a 50% reduction in the stillbirth rate by 2025, compared to the 2010 rate is not on track.
"Worryingly, the unacceptable inequalities in baby loss also persist. The gap in the stillbirth rate between those living in the most and least deprived areas of England widened, and there was a significant increase in the rate of stillbirth among babies of Asian ethnicity in England and Wales. And despite a slight reduction in the stillbirth rate among Black babies, this remains nearly twice as high as the rate among White babies.
"The NHS is now consulting on a new 10-year plan and saving babies’ lives and eliminating inequalities in pregnancy and baby loss must be a key part of this. This is a key opportunity to set future ambitions. The government must make saving babies’ lives the health policy priority it deserves to be, and ensure it puts in place a comprehensive programme of work to achieve them."
Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy’s, said:
“Today’s figures are a stark reminder that much more can and must be done to save babies’ lives.
“Apart from signs of progress in Wales, and a very small reduction in the stillbirth rate among Black babies, the picture remains painfully unchanged.
“These are not simply statistics. They are babies who should be here with their families and whose absence will be felt for a lifetime.
“As the Government looks to shape NHS services for the next 10 years, we will continue to push for improvements and advances in care to make pregnancy and birth safe for everyone, no matter where they live or the colour of their skin.”
