At least 1,720 people, including 51 children, died while homeless in the UK in 2025, a 6.8% rise on the previous year, according to research by the Museum of Homelessness.
The Dying Homeless Project has now recorded 10,243 deaths since 2017. Over 30% of the 2025 deaths occurred on the streets or in rough sleepers' accommodation.
The museum said local authorities are under-reporting the true scale, with 197 deaths, more than one in 10, identified through sources such as memorial services, families and local media rather than council data. Nearly 15% of authorities did not respond to freedom of information requests or said they did not hold the data.
Drug, alcohol and suicide-related ‘deaths of despair’ accounted for 52% of deaths where the cause was known.
Bristol had the highest number of deaths in England at 55. Scotland saw a 38% rise, while Wales recorded a 31% fall.
Director Jess Turtle called for high-quality settings with consistent wraparound support, rather than ‘isolated, dangerous placements’.
