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Mesothelioma deaths by area: Britain’s asbestos legacy

Explore mesothelioma mortality across 350 council areas. Compare men and women, look at the long-term picture and see how each area’s figures have changed.

Analysis by Asbestos Awareness Course · Published 7 November 2026

Find your area
Council areas covered
350England, Scotland and Wales
Recorded mesothelioma deaths
75,1511981–2024; men and women
Local trends
8 periods1985–1989 to 2020–2024

A legacy that looks different from place to place

West Dunbartonshire recorded the highest long-term male mesothelioma ratio among areas meeting this study’s minimum-count rule. Its standardised mortality ratio (SMR) of 337.1 means 3.37 times the deaths expected if the area had experienced Great Britain’s age-specific male mortality rates over 1981–2024. There were 308 recorded male deaths.

South Tyneside and North Tyneside followed, at 272.5 and 271.9. Their estimates are very close and their confidence intervals overlap. Numerical rank alone does not establish a meaningful difference between areas.

For women, Barking and Dagenham had the highest ratio, at 313.3, followed by Sunderland at 302.6 and Newham at 268.1. The male and female tables have their own national benchmarks and must be read separately.

At the lower end, Powys had a male SMR of 40.5, followed by Rutland at 44.3 and Stirling at 47.9, among areas with at least 20 male deaths. The lowest eligible female ratio was in Barnsley, at 45.9.

What is being mapped? Deaths associated with a disease that usually develops decades after exposure. These figures are based on the deceased person’s last area of residence. They do not identify where exposure happened or how much asbestos remains in an area’s buildings today.

The ten highest male ratios

Male mesothelioma SMRs, 1981–2024. Great Britain = 100. Lines show HSE’s 95% confidence intervals. At least 20 deaths required for ranking.
Male mesothelioma SMRs, 1981–2024. Great Britain = 100. Lines show HSE’s 95% confidence intervals. At least 20 deaths required for ranking.
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The ten lowest male ratios

The lowest male SMRs among eligible areas, 1981–2024. A low historical mortality ratio does not mean an area is asbestos-free.
The lowest male SMRs among eligible areas, 1981–2024. A low historical mortality ratio does not mean an area is asbestos-free.
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Switch to women in the explorer below to see the female comparisons. All 350 areas remain available, including those with too few deaths to rank.

Why the figures vary

Past industry leaves a local pattern

HSE identifies shipbuilding as a common history among the six areas with the highest male ratios. Construction exposure was more geographically widespread. This helps explain the broad pattern, but an area total cannot establish the cause of an individual person’s disease. Sources 2–3

People move after exposure

A worker may have been exposed in one place and retired to another. HSE’s figures use residence at death, so migration can weaken or redistribute the geographical pattern. Lower figures cannot be credited to today’s local safety policies using this dataset.

The long-term ranking is different from the recent picture

In West Dunbartonshire, the male SMR was 763.5 in 1990–1994 and 155.2 in 2020–2024. The latter is based on only 19 deaths. Its high position in the 44-year comparison therefore should not be presented as the highest current rate.

An SMR compares an area with Great Britain during the same period. A falling SMR means the area’s mortality is lower relative to that benchmark; it does not, by itself, prove a fall in its absolute death rate. The local charts below show both counts and ratios.

The map also reflects council reorganisations. Barrow-in-Furness now appears within Westmorland and Furness; comparing the old and new areas as if they were identical would be misleading.

Mesothelioma deaths by area in 2020–2024

South Tyneside had the highest recent male ratio among the 198 areas with at least 20 male deaths: an SMR of 233.9, based on 54 deaths. Plymouth followed at 216.3 (82 deaths), and Havering at 185.7 (65 deaths).

That is a different list from the full 1981–2024 comparison. West Dunbartonshire, which leads the long-term male table, recorded 19 male deaths in 2020–2024. Its recent SMR was 155.2, but it falls below the same 20-death threshold when that rule is applied to the shorter period.

Both periods use the same council geography. Each ratio compares an area with the national age-specific mortality rates during its own period. A change in SMR is therefore a change relative to that period’s benchmark, not necessarily a change in the absolute death rate.

The ten highest male SMRs among 198 eligible council areas in 2020–2024. At least 20 deaths; 2024 provisional. Great Britain = 100.
The ten highest male SMRs among 198 eligible council areas in 2020–2024. At least 20 deaths; 2024 provisional. Great Britain = 100.
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Recent male mortality: the ten highest eligible ratios
AreaMale deaths 2020–24SMR 2020–24SMR 1981–2024
South Tyneside54233.9272.5
Plymouth82216.3256.2
Havering65185.7179.0
Barking and Dagenham25182.4212.1
Halton32180.6151.9
North Tyneside57177.9271.9
Adur21177.7119.8
Medway61175.6228.8
New Forest74175.5138.4
Inverclyde21172.8190.9

The recent table supplies no confidence intervals. These descriptive ranks do not prove differences between areas. Only seven areas meet the 20-death rule for women in 2020–2024, so we do not publish a recent female “top ten”. The explorer retains every area and flags small counts.

Switch the map between 1981–2024 and 2020–2024, or download recent figures for every area.

Women’s mesothelioma deaths show a different local pattern

Barking and Dagenham, Sunderland and Newham lead the long-term female comparison. Their SMRs were 313.3, 302.6 and 268.1 respectively. Barking and Dagenham recorded 91 female deaths, Sunderland 170 and Newham 82 over 1981–2024.

The male and female measures use separate benchmarks. The female table describes where mortality among women was high relative to women nationally; it does not mean women had more deaths than men. Area totals cannot distinguish occupational, household or environmental exposure pathways for an individual.

Female mesothelioma SMRs, 1981–2024. Great Britain = 100; at least 20 deaths. Lines show HSE 95% confidence intervals.
Female mesothelioma SMRs, 1981–2024. Great Britain = 100; at least 20 deaths. Lines show HSE 95% confidence intervals.
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The ten highest female ratios, 1981–2024
AreaFemale deathsSMR95% interval
Barking and Dagenham91313.3252.3–384.7
Sunderland170302.6258.8–351.7
Newham82268.1213.2–332.8
West Dunbartonshire42219.9158.5–297.2
Leeds306219.8195.9–245.9
Castle Point42217.3156.6–293.7
Havering103210.5171.8–255.3
Basildon61199.0152.2–255.6
Medway81189.4150.5–235.5
Rochford33187.8129.3–263.7

The five lowest eligible female ratios

Lowest female ratios among areas with at least 20 deaths
AreaFemale deathsSMR95% interval
Barnsley2145.928.4–70.1
Coventry3053.336.0–76.2
Swansea2753.535.2–77.8
Carmarthenshire2353.934.2–80.9
Leicester2754.235.7–78.8

A lower historical mortality ratio does not establish that buildings are asbestos-free or that present-day exposure is lower.

Explore the map and find your area

Switch between the long-term and recent five-year figures. Great Britain = 100 within each period. Grey areas have fewer than 20 deaths for the selected sex and period. Select a country to enlarge that part of the map.

Standardised mortality ratio (SMR), 1981–2024; Great Britain = 100

Choose an area on the map to see its figures here.
Britain’s asbestos legacySelect an area to show its figures. The same data is available in the searchable table.Hartlepool: male SMR 215.1, 1981–2024Middlesbrough: male SMR 137.7, 1981–2024Redcar and Cleveland: male SMR 150.7, 1981–2024Stockton-on-Tees: male SMR 188.8, 1981–2024Darlington: male SMR 140.2, 1981–2024Halton: male SMR 151.9, 1981–2024Warrington: male SMR 91.1, 1981–2024Blackburn with Darwen: male SMR 77.9, 1981–2024Blackpool: male SMR 91.2, 1981–2024Kingston upon Hull, City of: male SMR 96.5, 1981–2024East Riding of Yorkshire: male SMR 105.3, 1981–2024North East Lincolnshire: male SMR 92.2, 1981–2024North Lincolnshire: male SMR 115.1, 1981–2024York: male SMR 127.9, 1981–2024Derby: male SMR 133.5, 1981–2024Leicester: male SMR 55.4, 1981–2024Rutland: male SMR 44.3, 1981–2024Nottingham: male SMR 87.7, 1981–2024Herefordshire, County of: male SMR 63.1, 1981–2024Telford and Wrekin: male SMR 80.2, 1981–2024Stoke-on-Trent: male SMR 85.0, 1981–2024Bath and North East Somerset: male SMR 98.8, 1981–2024Bristol, City of: male SMR 107.7, 1981–2024North Somerset: male SMR 98.0, 1981–2024South Gloucestershire: male SMR 116.4, 1981–2024Plymouth: male SMR 256.2, 1981–2024Torbay: male SMR 86.9, 1981–2024Swindon: male SMR 160.0, 1981–2024Peterborough: male SMR 107.3, 1981–2024Luton: male SMR 93.5, 1981–2024Southend-on-Sea: male SMR 106.0, 1981–2024Thurrock: male SMR 175.6, 1981–2024Medway: male SMR 228.8, 1981–2024Bracknell Forest: male SMR 116.3, 1981–2024West Berkshire: male SMR 108.7, 1981–2024Reading: male SMR 98.5, 1981–2024Slough: male SMR 82.0, 1981–2024Windsor and Maidenhead: male SMR 92.1, 1981–2024Wokingham: male SMR 101.5, 1981–2024Milton Keynes: male SMR 124.6, 1981–2024Brighton and Hove: male SMR 74.2, 1981–2024Portsmouth: male SMR 256.5, 1981–2024Southampton: male SMR 211.1, 1981–2024Isle of Wight: male SMR 156.5, 1981–2024County Durham: male SMR 79.8, 1981–2024Cheshire East: male SMR 120.3, 1981–2024Cheshire West and Chester: male SMR 107.4, 1981–2024Shropshire: male SMR 62.8, 1981–2024Cornwall: male SMR 99.4, 1981–2024Isles of Scilly: male SMR 64.4, 1981–2024Wiltshire: male SMR 85.3, 1981–2024Bedford: male SMR 82.0, 1981–2024Central Bedfordshire: male SMR 99.0, 1981–2024Northumberland: male SMR 104.5, 1981–2024Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: male SMR 96.5, 1981–2024Dorset: male SMR 85.7, 1981–2024Buckinghamshire: male SMR 93.9, 1981–2024North Northamptonshire: male SMR 113.9, 1981–2024West Northamptonshire: male SMR 88.5, 1981–2024Cumberland: male SMR 93.6, 1981–2024Westmorland and Furness: male SMR 170.1, 1981–2024North Yorkshire: male SMR 80.1, 1981–2024Somerset: male SMR 76.6, 1981–2024Cambridge: male SMR 82.3, 1981–2024East Cambridgeshire: male SMR 90.0, 1981–2024Fenland: male SMR 97.6, 1981–2024Huntingdonshire: male SMR 102.8, 1981–2024South Cambridgeshire: male SMR 91.2, 1981–2024Amber Valley: male SMR 79.2, 1981–2024Bolsover: male SMR 62.2, 1981–2024Chesterfield: male SMR 73.8, 1981–2024Derbyshire Dales: male SMR 53.0, 1981–2024Erewash: male SMR 96.6, 1981–2024High Peak: male SMR 94.6, 1981–2024North East Derbyshire: male SMR 65.7, 1981–2024South Derbyshire: male SMR 94.8, 1981–2024East Devon: male SMR 82.0, 1981–2024Exeter: male SMR 88.5, 1981–2024Mid Devon: male SMR 73.2, 1981–2024North Devon: male SMR 105.6, 1981–2024South Hams: male SMR 95.8, 1981–2024Teignbridge: male SMR 81.5, 1981–2024Torridge: male SMR 99.7, 1981–2024West Devon: male SMR 93.7, 1981–2024Eastbourne: male SMR 101.6, 1981–2024Hastings: male SMR 77.9, 1981–2024Lewes: male SMR 77.1, 1981–2024Rother: male SMR 90.9, 1981–2024Wealden: male SMR 97.2, 1981–2024Basildon: male SMR 163.8, 1981–2024Braintree: male SMR 111.0, 1981–2024Brentwood: male SMR 138.4, 1981–2024Castle Point: male SMR 187.7, 1981–2024Chelmsford: male SMR 125.5, 1981–2024Colchester: male SMR 99.3, 1981–2024Epping Forest: male SMR 124.6, 1981–2024Harlow: male SMR 121.4, 1981–2024Maldon: male SMR 118.3, 1981–2024Rochford: male SMR 141.6, 1981–2024Tendring: male SMR 129.0, 1981–2024Uttlesford: male SMR 74.5, 1981–2024Cheltenham: male SMR 72.3, 1981–2024Cotswold: male SMR 68.1, 1981–2024Forest of Dean: male SMR 89.6, 1981–2024Gloucester: male SMR 105.2, 1981–2024Stroud: male SMR 112.7, 1981–2024Tewkesbury: male SMR 77.6, 1981–2024Basingstoke and Deane: male SMR 107.3, 1981–2024East Hampshire: male SMR 109.3, 1981–2024Eastleigh: male SMR 206.2, 1981–2024Fareham: male SMR 195.0, 1981–2024Gosport: male SMR 209.9, 1981–2024Hart: male SMR 104.5, 1981–2024Havant: male SMR 187.8, 1981–2024New Forest: male SMR 138.4, 1981–2024Rushmoor: male SMR 83.4, 1981–2024Test Valley: male SMR 119.3, 1981–2024Winchester: male SMR 113.1, 1981–2024Broxbourne: male SMR 111.4, 1981–2024Dacorum: male SMR 101.4, 1981–2024Hertsmere: male SMR 93.0, 1981–2024North Hertfordshire: male SMR 87.3, 1981–2024Three Rivers: male SMR 111.7, 1981–2024Watford: male SMR 95.4, 1981–2024Ashford: male SMR 109.2, 1981–2024Canterbury: male SMR 110.4, 1981–2024Dartford: male SMR 131.9, 1981–2024Dover: male SMR 106.0, 1981–2024Gravesham: male SMR 151.5, 1981–2024Maidstone: male SMR 124.3, 1981–2024Sevenoaks: male SMR 109.8, 1981–2024Folkestone and Hythe: male SMR 106.8, 1981–2024Swale: male SMR 145.9, 1981–2024Thanet: male SMR 111.0, 1981–2024Tonbridge and Malling: male SMR 120.6, 1981–2024Tunbridge Wells: male SMR 79.8, 1981–2024Burnley: male SMR 62.4, 1981–2024Chorley: male SMR 104.4, 1981–2024Fylde: male SMR 81.4, 1981–2024Hyndburn: male SMR 71.8, 1981–2024Lancaster: male SMR 82.4, 1981–2024Pendle: male SMR 78.2, 1981–2024Preston: male SMR 82.3, 1981–2024Ribble Valley: male SMR 89.8, 1981–2024Rossendale: male SMR 90.6, 1981–2024South Ribble: male SMR 88.5, 1981–2024West Lancashire: male SMR 73.9, 1981–2024Wyre: male SMR 98.9, 1981–2024Blaby: male SMR 113.5, 1981–2024Charnwood: male SMR 80.5, 1981–2024Harborough: male SMR 84.8, 1981–2024Hinckley and Bosworth: male SMR 88.5, 1981–2024Melton: male SMR 56.0, 1981–2024North West Leicestershire: male SMR 70.6, 1981–2024Oadby and Wigston: male SMR 95.5, 1981–2024Boston: male SMR 48.8, 1981–2024East Lindsey: male SMR 72.1, 1981–2024Lincoln: male SMR 73.0, 1981–2024North Kesteven: male SMR 72.9, 1981–2024South Holland: male SMR 74.9, 1981–2024South Kesteven: male SMR 71.5, 1981–2024West Lindsey: male SMR 84.5, 1981–2024Breckland: male SMR 95.8, 1981–2024Broadland: male SMR 111.0, 1981–2024Great Yarmouth: male SMR 101.5, 1981–2024King's Lynn and West Norfolk: male SMR 91.1, 1981–2024North Norfolk: male SMR 100.6, 1981–2024Norwich: male SMR 105.6, 1981–2024South Norfolk: male SMR 96.2, 1981–2024Ashfield: male SMR 66.1, 1981–2024Bassetlaw: male SMR 104.0, 1981–2024Broxtowe: male SMR 94.6, 1981–2024Gedling: male SMR 90.5, 1981–2024Mansfield: male SMR 89.0, 1981–2024Newark and Sherwood: male SMR 87.9, 1981–2024Rushcliffe: male SMR 91.3, 1981–2024Cherwell: male SMR 84.4, 1981–2024Oxford: male SMR 66.6, 1981–2024South Oxfordshire: male SMR 83.6, 1981–2024Vale of White Horse: male SMR 93.5, 1981–2024West Oxfordshire: male SMR 92.8, 1981–2024Cannock Chase: male SMR 101.5, 1981–2024East Staffordshire: male SMR 113.9, 1981–2024Lichfield: male SMR 106.0, 1981–2024Newcastle-under-Lyme: male SMR 67.9, 1981–2024South Staffordshire: male SMR 73.0, 1981–2024Stafford: male SMR 79.7, 1981–2024Staffordshire Moorlands: male SMR 72.3, 1981–2024Tamworth: male SMR 137.0, 1981–2024Babergh: male SMR 122.2, 1981–2024Ipswich: male SMR 105.7, 1981–2024Mid Suffolk: male SMR 69.8, 1981–2024Elmbridge: male SMR 80.9, 1981–2024Epsom and Ewell: male SMR 103.0, 1981–2024Guildford: male SMR 101.1, 1981–2024Mole Valley: male SMR 106.7, 1981–2024Reigate and Banstead: male SMR 92.8, 1981–2024Runnymede: male SMR 107.6, 1981–2024Spelthorne: male SMR 87.3, 1981–2024Surrey Heath: male SMR 104.5, 1981–2024Tandridge: male SMR 89.5, 1981–2024Waverley: male SMR 83.0, 1981–2024Woking: male SMR 105.4, 1981–2024North Warwickshire: male SMR 103.1, 1981–2024Nuneaton and Bedworth: male SMR 65.6, 1981–2024Rugby: male SMR 73.6, 1981–2024Stratford-on-Avon: male SMR 71.2, 1981–2024Warwick: male SMR 77.2, 1981–2024Adur: male SMR 119.8, 1981–2024Arun: male SMR 95.6, 1981–2024Chichester: male SMR 78.9, 1981–2024Crawley: male SMR 87.9, 1981–2024Horsham: male SMR 89.4, 1981–2024Mid Sussex: male SMR 79.8, 1981–2024Worthing: male SMR 93.1, 1981–2024Bromsgrove: male SMR 75.1, 1981–2024Malvern Hills: male SMR 67.5, 1981–2024Redditch: male SMR 86.5, 1981–2024Worcester: male SMR 65.3, 1981–2024Wychavon: male SMR 65.3, 1981–2024Wyre Forest: male SMR 101.9, 1981–2024St Albans: male SMR 83.4, 1981–2024Welwyn Hatfield: male SMR 78.6, 1981–2024East Hertfordshire: male SMR 97.9, 1981–2024Stevenage: male SMR 105.8, 1981–2024East Suffolk: male SMR 112.0, 1981–2024West Suffolk: male SMR 100.2, 1981–2024Bolton: male SMR 113.0, 1981–2024Bury: male SMR 103.8, 1981–2024Manchester: male SMR 78.2, 1981–2024Oldham: male SMR 95.6, 1981–2024Rochdale: male SMR 88.2, 1981–2024Salford: male SMR 111.1, 1981–2024Stockport: male SMR 83.9, 1981–2024Tameside: male SMR 126.4, 1981–2024Trafford: male SMR 91.4, 1981–2024Wigan: male SMR 101.7, 1981–2024Knowsley: male SMR 116.9, 1981–2024Liverpool: male SMR 96.5, 1981–2024St. Helens: male SMR 75.8, 1981–2024Sefton: male SMR 98.8, 1981–2024Wirral: male SMR 157.7, 1981–2024Barnsley: male SMR 52.5, 1981–2024Doncaster: male SMR 145.1, 1981–2024Rotherham: male SMR 75.1, 1981–2024Sheffield: male SMR 96.9, 1981–2024Newcastle upon Tyne: male SMR 192.4, 1981–2024North Tyneside: male SMR 271.9, 1981–2024South Tyneside: male SMR 272.5, 1981–2024Sunderland: male SMR 184.3, 1981–2024Birmingham: male SMR 70.3, 1981–2024Coventry: male SMR 59.0, 1981–2024Dudley: male SMR 71.9, 1981–2024Sandwell: male SMR 73.0, 1981–2024Solihull: male SMR 91.3, 1981–2024Walsall: male SMR 70.6, 1981–2024Wolverhampton: male SMR 63.8, 1981–2024Bradford: male SMR 86.3, 1981–2024Calderdale: male SMR 110.6, 1981–2024Kirklees: male SMR 101.8, 1981–2024Leeds: male SMR 121.0, 1981–2024Wakefield: male SMR 96.2, 1981–2024Gateshead: male SMR 147.3, 1981–2024City of London: male SMR 37.8, 1981–2024Barking and Dagenham: male SMR 212.1, 1981–2024Barnet: male SMR 56.5, 1981–2024Bexley: male SMR 136.1, 1981–2024Brent: male SMR 50.4, 1981–2024Bromley: male SMR 97.5, 1981–2024Camden: male SMR 67.5, 1981–2024Croydon: male SMR 74.7, 1981–2024Ealing: male SMR 58.8, 1981–2024Enfield: male SMR 68.3, 1981–2024Greenwich: male SMR 120.3, 1981–2024Hackney: male SMR 66.8, 1981–2024Hammersmith and Fulham: male SMR 72.3, 1981–2024Haringey: male SMR 52.2, 1981–2024Harrow: male SMR 61.8, 1981–2024Havering: male SMR 179.0, 1981–2024Hillingdon: male SMR 123.6, 1981–2024Hounslow: male SMR 61.2, 1981–2024Islington: male SMR 73.8, 1981–2024Kensington and Chelsea: male SMR 49.8, 1981–2024Kingston upon Thames: male SMR 79.9, 1981–2024Lambeth: male SMR 56.4, 1981–2024Lewisham: male SMR 94.2, 1981–2024Merton: male SMR 74.0, 1981–2024Newham: male SMR 156.5, 1981–2024Redbridge: male SMR 99.0, 1981–2024Richmond upon Thames: male SMR 66.2, 1981–2024Southwark: male SMR 70.4, 1981–2024Sutton: male SMR 100.6, 1981–2024Tower Hamlets: male SMR 124.3, 1981–2024Waltham Forest: male SMR 81.7, 1981–2024Wandsworth: male SMR 79.8, 1981–2024Westminster: male SMR 56.0, 1981–2024Clackmannanshire: male SMR 80.1, 1981–2024Dumfries and Galloway: male SMR 52.5, 1981–2024East Ayrshire: male SMR 58.4, 1981–2024East Lothian: male SMR 89.6, 1981–2024East Renfrewshire: male SMR 86.7, 1981–2024Na h-Eileanan Siar: male SMR 54.2, 1981–2024Falkirk: male SMR 115.5, 1981–2024Highland: male SMR 78.4, 1981–2024Inverclyde: male SMR 190.9, 1981–2024Midlothian: male SMR 88.9, 1981–2024Moray: male SMR 59.5, 1981–2024North Ayrshire: male SMR 119.1, 1981–2024Orkney Islands: male SMR 69.5, 1981–2024Scottish Borders: male SMR 52.4, 1981–2024Shetland Islands: male SMR 33.4, 1981–2024South Ayrshire: male SMR 74.6, 1981–2024South Lanarkshire: male SMR 96.8, 1981–2024Stirling: male SMR 47.9, 1981–2024Aberdeen City: male SMR 90.2, 1981–2024Aberdeenshire: male SMR 62.1, 1981–2024Argyll and Bute: male SMR 98.5, 1981–2024City of Edinburgh: male SMR 95.4, 1981–2024Renfrewshire: male SMR 164.0, 1981–2024West Dunbartonshire: male SMR 337.1, 1981–2024West Lothian: male SMR 93.3, 1981–2024Angus: male SMR 58.0, 1981–2024Dundee City: male SMR 89.9, 1981–2024East Dunbartonshire: male SMR 132.0, 1981–2024Fife: male SMR 121.8, 1981–2024Perth and Kinross: male SMR 60.1, 1981–2024Glasgow City: male SMR 152.8, 1981–2024North Lanarkshire: male SMR 88.3, 1981–2024Isle of Anglesey: male SMR 76.6, 1981–2024Gwynedd: male SMR 73.2, 1981–2024Conwy: male SMR 64.3, 1981–2024Denbighshire: male SMR 88.4, 1981–2024Flintshire: male SMR 83.3, 1981–2024Wrexham: male SMR 94.8, 1981–2024Ceredigion: male SMR 51.8, 1981–2024Pembrokeshire: male SMR 87.8, 1981–2024Carmarthenshire: male SMR 59.4, 1981–2024Swansea: male SMR 86.6, 1981–2024Neath Port Talbot: male SMR 55.6, 1981–2024Bridgend: male SMR 55.5, 1981–2024Vale of Glamorgan: male SMR 122.3, 1981–2024Cardiff: male SMR 93.9, 1981–2024Rhondda Cynon Taff: male SMR 63.4, 1981–2024Caerphilly: male SMR 66.3, 1981–2024Blaenau Gwent: male SMR 55.0, 1981–2024Torfaen: male SMR 81.6, 1981–2024Monmouthshire: male SMR 61.9, 1981–2024Newport: male SMR 92.4, 1981–2024Powys: male SMR 40.5, 1981–2024Merthyr Tydfil: male SMR 59.6, 1981–2024
  • Under 50
  • 50–<80
  • 80–<100
  • 100–<150
  • 150–<200
  • 200+
  • Not in this comparison

Boundaries: ONS, May 2024. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026; ONS data © Crown copyright 2026. The table provides the same figures without using the map.

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350 council areas shown. Download the full CSV for every comparison.

All 350 council areas: male mesothelioma mortality, 1981–2024
AreaCountryDeathsSMR95% intervalComparison with GB
Scotland308337.1300.5–377.0Above GB
England468272.5248.4–298.3Above GB
England604271.9250.6–294.5Above GB
England482256.5234.1–280.5Above GB
England674256.2237.3–276.3Above GB
England527228.8209.7–249.2Above GB
England207215.1186.8–246.5Above GB
England304212.1188.9–237.4Above GB
England439211.1191.8–231.8Above GB
England177209.9180.1–243.3Above GB
England258206.2181.8–233.0Above GB
England256195.0171.8–220.4Above GB
England519192.4176.2–209.6Above GB
Scotland171190.9163.4–221.8Above GB
England344188.8169.4–209.9Above GB
England279187.8166.4–211.2Above GB
England200187.7162.5–215.5Above GB
England540184.3169.1–200.5Above GB
England456179.0162.9–196.2Above GB
England223175.6153.3–200.2Above GB
England507170.1155.6–185.6Above GB
Scotland288164.0145.6–184.0Above GB
England263163.8144.6–184.9Above GB
England292160.0142.2–179.5Above GB
England591157.7145.3–171.0Above GB
England253156.5137.8–177.1Above GB
England317156.5139.7–174.7Above GB
Scotland830152.8142.6–163.6Above GB
England177151.9130.3–176.0Above GB
England151151.5128.3–177.7Above GB
England239150.7132.2–171.1Above GB
England324147.3131.7–164.3Above GB
England202145.9126.5–167.5Above GB
England463145.1132.2–158.9Above GB
England138141.6118.9–167.3Above GB
England161140.2119.4–163.6Above GB
England360138.4124.5–153.4Above GB
England117138.4114.4–165.9Above GB
England184137.7118.5–159.1Above GB
England88137.0109.9–168.8Above GB
England312136.1121.4–152.1Above GB
England324133.5119.3–148.8Above GB
Scotland155132.0112.0–154.5Above GB
England115131.9108.9–158.3Above GB
England298129.0114.8–144.5Above GB
England260127.9112.9–144.5Above GB
England278126.4112.0–142.2Above GB
England212125.5109.2–143.6Above GB
England177124.6107.0–144.4Above GB
England208124.6108.2–142.7Above GB
England159124.3105.8–145.2Above GB
England200124.3107.7–142.8Above GB
England291123.6109.8–138.6Above GB
Wales171122.3104.7–142.1Above GB
England139122.2102.7–144.3Above GB
Scotland472121.8111.0–133.3Above GB
England88121.497.4–149.6Interval includes GB
England873121.0113.1–129.3Above GB
England145120.6101.7–141.9Above GB
England224120.3105.1–137.1Above GB
England517120.3110.1–131.1Above GB
England99119.897.4–145.8Interval includes GB
England150119.3101.0–140.0Above GB
Scotland177119.1102.2–138.0Above GB
England87118.394.8–146.0Interval includes GB
England163116.999.7–136.3Interval includes GB
England302116.4103.6–130.3Above GB
England103116.394.9–141.1Interval includes GB
Scotland178115.599.1–133.7Interval includes GB
England212115.1100.1–131.7Above GB
England132113.995.3–135.1Interval includes GB
England360113.9102.4–126.3Above GB
England114113.593.6–136.4Interval includes GB
England147113.195.6–132.9Interval includes GB
England304113.0100.6–126.4Above GB
England155112.795.7–132.0Interval includes GB
England376112.0100.9–123.9Above GB
England105111.791.3–135.2Interval includes GB
England98111.490.5–135.8Interval includes GB
England251111.197.7–125.7Interval includes GB
England181111.095.4–128.4Interval includes GB
England202111.096.2–127.4Interval includes GB
England165111.094.7–129.3Interval includes GB
England229110.696.7–125.9Interval includes GB
England194110.495.4–127.1Interval includes GB
England145109.892.6–129.1Interval includes GB
England144109.392.2–128.7Interval includes GB
England133109.291.4–129.4Interval includes GB
England161108.792.6–126.9Interval includes GB
England416107.797.6–118.6Interval includes GB
England92107.686.7–131.9Interval includes GB
England398107.497.1–118.4Interval includes GB
England160107.391.3–125.3Interval includes GB
England168107.391.7–124.8Interval includes GB
England146106.890.1–125.6Interval includes GB
England116106.788.2–128.0Interval includes GB
England148106.089.6–124.6Interval includes GB
England119106.087.8–126.9Interval includes GB
England213106.092.2–121.2Interval includes GB
England76105.883.3–132.4Interval includes GB
England140105.788.9–124.7Interval includes GB
England137105.688.7–124.9Interval includes GB
England133105.688.4–125.2Interval includes GB
England97105.485.5–128.6Interval includes GB
England442105.395.7–115.6Interval includes GB
England120105.287.2–125.8Interval includes GB
England87104.583.7–128.9Interval includes GB
England408104.594.6–115.1Interval includes GB
England90104.584.0–128.4Interval includes GB
England114104.486.1–125.4Interval includes GB
England134104.087.2–123.2Interval includes GB
England192103.889.6–119.6Interval includes GB
England72103.180.6–129.8Interval includes GB
England84103.082.1–127.5Interval includes GB
England167102.887.8–119.6Interval includes GB
England121101.984.6–121.8Interval includes GB
England406101.892.1–112.2Interval includes GB
England321101.790.9–113.4Interval includes GB
England139101.685.4–119.9Interval includes GB
England143101.585.6–119.6Interval includes GB
England125101.584.5–120.9Interval includes GB
England94101.582.0–124.2Interval includes GB
England145101.485.6–119.4Interval includes GB
England139101.185.0–119.4Interval includes GB
England173100.686.1–116.7Interval includes GB
England178100.686.3–116.5Interval includes GB
England182100.286.2–115.9Interval includes GB
England8999.780.1–122.7Interval includes GB
England69399.492.1–107.1Interval includes GB
England16599.384.7–115.6Interval includes GB
England24499.087.0–112.3Interval includes GB
England22699.086.5–112.8Interval includes GB
England15598.983.9–115.7Interval includes GB
England33698.888.5–109.9Interval includes GB
England20198.885.6–113.4Interval includes GB
Scotland11398.581.2–118.4Interval includes GB
England12298.581.8–117.6Interval includes GB
England24898.086.2–111.0Interval includes GB
England12997.981.7–116.3Interval includes GB
England11097.680.2–117.7Interval includes GB
England32097.587.1–108.8Interval includes GB
England20397.284.3–111.5Interval includes GB
England54696.988.9–105.3Interval includes GB
Scotland29896.886.1–108.4Interval includes GB
England11996.680.0–115.6Interval includes GB
England23796.584.6–109.7Interval includes GB
England42796.587.6–106.1Interval includes GB
England47196.588.0–105.6Interval includes GB
England32696.286.0–107.2Interval includes GB
England15696.281.7–112.5Interval includes GB
England11695.879.1–114.9Interval includes GB
England16295.881.6–111.7Interval includes GB
England22795.683.5–108.8Interval includes GB
England20395.682.9–109.7Interval includes GB
England6095.572.9–123.0Interval includes GB
Scotland42095.486.5–104.9Interval includes GB
England7095.474.3–120.5Interval includes GB
Wales13594.879.5–112.2Interval includes GB
England8794.875.9–116.9Interval includes GB
England11894.678.3–113.4Interval includes GB
England9394.676.4–115.9Interval includes GB
England18294.281.0–108.9Interval includes GB
England48293.985.7–102.7Interval includes GB
Wales27793.983.1–105.6Interval includes GB
England6993.772.9–118.6Interval includes GB
England30593.683.4–104.8Interval includes GB
England12493.577.8–111.5Interval includes GB
England14593.578.9–110.0Interval includes GB
Scotland13093.377.9–110.7Interval includes GB
England13293.177.9–110.4Interval includes GB
England9793.075.4–113.5Interval includes GB
England13492.877.8–110.0Interval includes GB
England10692.876.0–112.2Interval includes GB
Wales13692.477.5–109.3Interval includes GB
England16292.278.5–107.5Interval includes GB
England13692.177.3–108.9Interval includes GB
England21191.479.5–104.6Interval includes GB
England20991.379.3–104.5Interval includes GB
England11391.375.2–109.7Interval includes GB
England13891.276.6–107.8Interval includes GB
England16691.277.9–106.2Interval includes GB
England18391.178.4–105.3Interval includes GB
England17991.178.2–105.5Interval includes GB
England14490.976.7–107.0Interval includes GB
England6290.669.5–116.2Interval includes GB
England11790.574.8–108.5Interval includes GB
Scotland18590.277.7–104.2Interval includes GB
England7990.071.3–112.2Interval includes GB
Scotland14089.975.6–106.1Interval includes GB
England6389.869.0–114.9Interval includes GB
Scotland9789.672.7–109.3Interval includes GB
England9289.672.2–109.9Interval includes GB
England8589.571.5–110.6Interval includes GB
England13789.475.0–105.6Interval includes GB
England10089.072.4–108.3Interval includes GB
Scotland7588.969.9–111.5Interval includes GB
England10088.572.0–107.7Interval includes GB
England10288.572.2–107.4Interval includes GB
England31588.579.0–98.8Below GB
England10588.572.4–107.1Interval includes GB
Wales11288.472.8–106.4Interval includes GB
Scotland26588.378.0–99.6Below GB
England17588.275.6–102.2Interval includes GB
England7887.969.5–109.7Interval includes GB
England11687.972.6–105.4Interval includes GB
Wales13587.873.6–103.9Interval includes GB
England22087.776.5–100.0Interval includes GB
England11687.372.2–104.8Interval includes GB
England9087.370.2–107.3Interval includes GB
England16986.974.3–101.0Interval includes GB
Scotland8186.768.9–107.8Interval includes GB
Wales23186.675.8–98.6Below GB
England6386.566.5–110.7Interval includes GB
England39086.378.0–95.3Below GB
England46485.778.0–93.8Below GB
England44685.377.5–93.6Below GB
England21685.074.0–97.1Below GB
England8084.867.3–105.6Interval includes GB
England9484.568.3–103.4Interval includes GB
England11284.469.5–101.6Interval includes GB
England26483.974.0–94.6Below GB
England12383.669.5–99.7Below GB
England6283.463.9–106.9Interval includes GB
England11583.468.8–100.1Interval includes GB
Wales13583.369.8–98.6Below GB
England12083.068.8–99.3Below GB
England13282.468.9–97.7Below GB
England10682.367.4–99.6Below GB
England8182.365.3–102.3Interval includes GB
England12882.068.4–97.6Below GB
England7682.064.6–102.7Interval includes GB
England18582.070.6–94.7Below GB
England15181.769.2–95.8Below GB
Wales8281.664.9–101.3Interval includes GB
England14681.568.8–95.8Below GB
England9181.465.6–100.0Below GB
England11180.966.5–97.4Below GB
England13580.567.5–95.2Below GB
England11880.266.4–96.1Below GB
Scotland4080.157.2–109.1Interval includes GB
England57680.173.7–86.9Below GB
England11179.965.7–96.2Below GB
England45579.872.6–87.5Below GB
England16079.867.9–93.2Below GB
England9479.864.5–97.6Below GB
England12079.866.1–95.4Below GB
England12079.766.1–95.3Below GB
England11379.265.3–95.2Below GB
England13178.965.9–93.6Below GB
England8578.662.8–97.2Below GB
Scotland19878.467.8–90.1Below GB
England28078.269.3–87.9Below GB
England7478.261.4–98.1Below GB
England10077.963.4–94.8Below GB
England7977.961.7–97.1Below GB
England7677.661.1–97.1Below GB
England11077.263.4–93.0Below GB
England10577.163.1–93.4Below GB
Wales6976.659.6–96.9Below GB
England53976.670.3–83.3Below GB
England14575.864.0–89.2Below GB
England20475.165.2–86.2Below GB
England8275.159.8–93.3Below GB
England8574.959.8–92.6Below GB
England22474.765.3–85.2Below GB
Scotland10674.661.1–90.2Below GB
England6374.557.3–95.3Below GB
England19574.264.1–85.3Below GB
England12174.061.4–88.5Below GB
England9073.959.5–90.9Below GB
England9773.859.9–90.1Below GB
England8873.859.2–91.0Below GB
England7873.658.2–91.9Below GB
England7073.257.1–92.5Below GB
Wales10873.260.0–88.4Below GB
England22073.063.7–83.3Below GB
England9273.058.8–89.5Below GB
England6373.056.1–93.3Below GB
England9372.958.8–89.3Below GB
England8772.357.9–89.2Below GB
England8872.358.0–89.1Below GB
England8972.358.1–89.0Below GB
England15072.161.0–84.6Below GB
England24871.963.2–81.4Below GB
England6071.854.8–92.4Below GB
England10871.558.6–86.3Below GB
England11071.258.5–85.8Below GB
England19370.661.0–81.3Below GB
England7270.655.2–88.9Below GB
England12670.458.6–83.8Below GB
England65770.365.0–75.9Below GB
England8369.855.6–86.5Below GB
Scotland1869.5Fewer than 20 deaths41.2–109.9Interval includes GB
England17768.358.6–79.1Below GB
England7768.153.8–85.1Below GB
England9567.954.9–83.0Below GB
England7367.552.9–84.8Below GB
England10667.555.2–81.6Below GB
England9266.853.9–81.9Below GB
England7766.652.6–83.2Below GB
Wales12066.355.0–79.3Below GB
England11566.254.6–79.4Below GB
England8366.152.7–81.9Below GB
England8265.752.2–81.5Below GB
England8365.652.2–81.3Below GB
England9765.353.0–79.7Below GB
England6065.349.8–84.0Below GB
England264.4Fewer than 20 deaths7.8–232.5Interval includes GB
Wales10764.352.7–77.7Below GB
England16663.854.4–74.3Below GB
Wales15963.453.9–74.1Below GB
England14963.153.4–74.1Below GB
England23762.855.1–71.3Below GB
England5862.447.4–80.7Below GB
England5462.246.7–81.2Below GB
Scotland15562.152.7–72.6Below GB
Wales7061.948.3–78.2Below GB
England13461.851.7–73.2Below GB
England11461.250.4–73.5Below GB
Scotland10660.149.2–72.6Below GB
Wales3759.642.0–82.2Below GB
Scotland6059.545.4–76.5Below GB
Wales13959.449.9–70.1Below GB
England18159.050.7–68.2Below GB
England15158.849.8–69.0Below GB
Scotland7658.446.0–73.1Below GB
Scotland7958.045.9–72.3Below GB
England17756.548.5–65.5Below GB
England10356.446.0–68.4Below GB
England9656.045.4–68.4Below GB
England3256.038.3–79.0Below GB
Wales9155.644.8–68.3Below GB
Wales8455.544.3–68.7Below GB
England14555.446.7–65.2Below GB
Wales4455.040.0–73.9Below GB
Scotland2054.233.1–83.8Below GB
England5153.039.5–69.7Below GB
England13152.543.9–62.3Below GB
Scotland10352.542.8–63.6Below GB
Scotland7652.441.3–65.6Below GB
England8352.241.6–64.7Below GB
Wales4951.838.3–68.4Below GB
England11250.441.5–60.6Below GB
England6449.838.3–63.6Below GB
England3748.834.3–67.2Below GB
Scotland4447.934.8–64.3Below GB
England2044.327.1–68.5Below GB
Wales7440.531.8–50.9Below GB
England337.8Fewer than 20 deaths7.8–110.6Interval includes GB
Scotland833.4Fewer than 20 deaths14.4–65.8Below GB

How we calculated the comparisons

We extracted all 350 unitary and local authority areas in HSE’s July 2026 MESOAREA workbook. County totals and regional totals are excluded from the local comparison to avoid double-counting. The 350 local totals reconcile to 63,320 male and 11,831 female deaths for 1981–2024.

SMR = observed deaths ÷ expected deaths × 100

Expected deaths use Great Britain’s age-specific mortality rates. We use HSE’s published SMRs and confidence intervals unchanged, rather than constructing crude per-person rates. Men and women are assessed separately. An SMR of 200 represents twice the expected deaths under the relevant national benchmark, not a 200% personal probability of illness.

Rank eligibility: at least 20 deaths for the selected sex over 1981–2024. This editorial threshold reduces instability in the headline lists. It leaves 346 male and 243 female areas eligible. All 350 areas remain in the data; unranked areas are grey on the map. Our ranks within the eligible set can differ from HSE’s unfiltered ranks.

Uncertainty: the full-period intervals are HSE’s 95% confidence intervals. “Above GB” means the lower limit exceeds 100; “Below GB” means the upper limit is below 100; otherwise the interval includes 100. These are individual comparisons, without adjustment for testing many areas. The ordering of overlapping estimates should not be treated as a statistically proven difference between councils.

Trends: the local explorer uses the eight five-year periods supplied in tables 03–04, from 1985–1989 to 2020–2024. The headline period starts in 1981; summing the displayed five-year periods therefore does not reproduce its total. Recent-period ratios are shown descriptively, with small counts flagged. We do not treat a change in ratio as a change in absolute risk or claim that it is statistically significant.

Coverage: Great Britain includes England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is outside the HSE mortality dataset used here, so the map is not labelled as UK-wide. HSE’s harmonised council codes match all 350 Great Britain boundaries in the May 2024 ONS map. Residence at death may differ from place of exposure. Figures for 2024 are provisional.

This is a local exploration of published official statistics, not a new estimate of the amount of asbestos in buildings. For the broader national picture, see our UK asbestos statistics.

Recent-period comparison: the same minimum of 20 deaths is applied separately to 2020–2024, giving 198 eligible male and seven eligible female areas. These ranks use the recent ratios from HSE tables 03–04. Recent-period confidence intervals are not supplied in those trend tables, so no significance comparison is made. The explorer marks those intervals as unavailable; the full-period intervals are not reused for the recent period.

Download the data and use the findings

The tables, charts and methodology are available for reporting. Please keep the reporting period, geography and measure with any figures you use.

All area comparisonsCSV with counts, denominators and eligibilityLocal trendsCSV for more detailed reportingDownload the press packCharts, maps, CSVs and methodology

Writing about this research?

Please credit Asbestos Awareness Course and link to this study so readers can explore the figures and check the methodology.

Analysis by Asbestos Awareness Course, based on HSE mesothelioma mortality statistics, July 2026 release. Mesothelioma deaths by area: Britain’s asbestos legacy.

Underlying official data retains its original licence and attribution requirements. Please identify our contribution as analysis of that data.

For a local breakdown or a question about the method, contact our team.

Sources and data links

Sources checked on 7 November 2026.

  1. HSE MESOAREA: mesothelioma deaths by geographical areaJuly 2026 release. Tables 01–02: deaths, SMRs and 95% confidence intervals for 1981–2024. Tables 03–04: five-year local trends. Latest year provisional.
  2. HSE geographical analysis and methodologyExplains standardisation, residence-based geography, industrial history, migration and boundary changes. Pages 3–8, 17–20 and the methodology annex.
  3. HSE mesothelioma statistics, 2026Background on the long latency of disease and past occupational exposure.
  4. ONS local authority boundaries, May 2024Generalised UK boundaries matched by official area code. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026; ONS data © Crown copyright 2026.
  5. HSE published data tablesUsed to verify the latest release available on 7 November 2026.