We estimate that every year 2,100 children aged 0-25 experience the death of a parent who served in the UK Armed Forces
Scotty’s Little Soldiers estimates that around 2,100 children each year are newly bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. These are our potential beneficiaries.
Our estimates draw on reliable national datasets including the 2021 Census, ONS datasets and MoD data. As part of our analysis, we also looked at other categories of bereaved military families. This includes estimates of the immediate family members who will be impacted by the death of a serving member of the UK Armed Forces or a Veteran. This also includes estimates of serving members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who have experienced the death of an immediate family member. Also included are estimates of the children of Veterans or serving members of the UK Armed Forces, who have experienced the death of their non-service parent. These estimates are where the death might be unexpected- younger than average life expectancy.
Scotty’s estimates:
3,160 Veterans (under 65) die each year leaving behind…
- 2,205 siblings
- 2,730 children (of whom 2,050 are under 25 years of age).
- 2,300 spouse or partners.
- 4,000 parents.
95 people still Serving die each year leaving behind…
- 67 siblings
- 62 children
- 46 spouse or partners
- 190 parents.
Veteran’s experiencing deaths in their families…
- 1,695 will experience the death of a spouse or partner.
- 2,632 will experience the death of their child.
- 960 will have a parent die before they are 35 yrs old.
- 987 will have a sibling die before they are 50 yrs old
People experiencing death whilst in Service…
- 207 will experience the death of a spouse or partner.
- 268 will experience the death of their child.
- 675 a parent before they are 35.473 a sibling
And 2,278 children will experience the death of a parent, when it is the parent who lives who Served.
Every year 21,775 people become bereaved military families.
These are either the immediate family members of Serving persons or Veterans who have died, or they are Serving persons or Veterans who are grieving the death of an immediate family member.
They deserve support.
The above data analysis was carried out in May 2024
If using the above estimates, please attribute it to Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
If you’d like the full breakdown of workings and assumptions, please email [email protected]