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Entry title:

Lyme disease

Last updated on Friday, 26 June 2026 at 11:34am

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of certain infected ticks (in the UK and Europe, mainly Ixodes ricinus, also known as the 'castor bean' or 'sheep' tick). Common symptoms are a characteristic bullseye rash, fever, and fatigue. If diagnosed early, it is highly treatable with antibiotics, but can lead to severe joint, heart, and neurological issues if left untreated.

This metric shows the annual incidence rate of laboratory confirmed acute Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex and age groups.

The rate of annual Acute Lyme Disease is calculated from cases confirmed by the the Rare and Imported Pathogens (RIPL) laboratory and mid-year population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics.

These metrics are updated annually. The next update will be in April 2027.

Overview

Infection rate by year

The total laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2025

ChartThere is only 1 plot on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'Annual infection rate'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 2.14 on 31 December 2017 to 1.97 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.65 on 31 December 2019 to 1.52 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 1.67 on 31 December 2021 to 1.59 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.99 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 1.64 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.99 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by year data for the total laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2025

Date Annual infection rate
31 Dec 20251.99
31 Dec 20241.64
31 Dec 20231.99
31 Dec 20221.59
31 Dec 20211.67
31 Dec 20201.52
31 Dec 20191.65
31 Dec 20181.97
31 Dec 20172.14
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Data reported from 2025 onwards are subject to a revised surveillance process. This update in methodology may affect case numbers and should be considered when interpreting trends in diagnoses prior to, and after, 2025. Rates are presented from 2017 to 2025 with overall acute Lyme disease rates per 100,000 population, calculated using the mid-year population estimates provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Population estimates for 2024 were used to calculate rates for 2025 as a proxy, as estimates for 2025 were not available at the time of publication.

Infection rate by sex

All laboratory confirmed cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2025

ChartThere are 2 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'male'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of males. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It rose from 2.11 on 31 December 2017 to 2.13 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.78 on 31 December 2019 to 1.67 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 1.71 on 31 December 2021 to 1.68 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.95 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 1.62 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.95 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a turquoise solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'female'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of females. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 2.12 on 31 December 2017 to 1.78 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.5 on 31 December 2019 to 1.37 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 1.63 on 31 December 2021 to 1.49 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.02 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 1.63 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.88 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by sex data for all laboratory confirmed cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2025

Date male female
31 Dec 20251.951.88
31 Dec 20241.621.63
31 Dec 20231.952.02
31 Dec 20221.681.49
31 Dec 20211.711.63
31 Dec 20201.671.37
31 Dec 20191.781.50
31 Dec 20182.131.78
31 Dec 20172.112.12
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The disaggregation of data by sex and age does not include cases missing either age or sex information. The following cases were excluded from the age and sex rate calculations: 2017–2024: 55 cases were excluded, including 6 case with missing age information, 48 cases with missing or invalid sex information, and 1 case missing both age and sex data. 2025: 46 cases were excluded, including 3 cases with missing age information, 41 cases with missing sex information, and 2 cases missing both age and sex data.

Infection rate by age group

All laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by age group. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2025

ChartThere are 6 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of '1 to 14 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '01-14' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It rose from 1.09 on 31 December 2017 to 1.15 on 31 December 2018. It rose from 0.97 on 31 December 2019 to 1.23 on 31 December 2020. It rose from 0.86 on 31 December 2021 to 0.89 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.03 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 0.66 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 0.88 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a turquoise solid line plot. The plot has a label of '15 to 44 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '15-44' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 2.16 on 31 December 2017 to 1.76 on 31 December 2018. It rose from 1.4 on 31 December 2019 to 1.44 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 1.54 on 31 December 2021 to 1.45 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.88 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 1.53 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.61 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 3 on this chart. This is a dark pink solid line plot. The plot has a label of '45 to 64 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '45-64' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 2.73 on 31 December 2017 to 2.72 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 2.33 on 31 December 2019 to 2.02 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 2.62 on 31 December 2021 to 2.32 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.98 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 2.39 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 2.98 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 4 on this chart. This is a orange solid line plot. The plot has a label of '65 to 74 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '65-74' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It fell from 3.04 on 31 December 2017 to 2.8 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 2.53 on 31 December 2019 to 1.82 on 31 December 2020. It rose from 1.96 on 31 December 2021 to 2.1 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.37 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 2.28 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 2.86 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 5 on this chart. This is a dark grey solid line plot. The plot has a label of '75 to 84 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '75-84' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It rose from 1.58 on 31 December 2017 to 1.6 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.37 on 31 December 2019 to 0.96 on 31 December 2020. It rose from 0.94 on 31 December 2021 to 1.16 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.45 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 1.41 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.76 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. This is plot number 6 on this chart. This is a light purple solid line plot. The plot has a label of '85 years and older'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '85+' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2025. It rose from 0.3 on 31 December 2017 to 0.52 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 0.44 on 31 December 2019 to 0.15 on 31 December 2020. It fell from 0.43 on 31 December 2021 to 0.35 on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 0.48 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. The date fluctuates between 0.47 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. And finally. The date fluctuates between 0.4 on 31 December 2025, ending with the same value on 31 December 2025. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by age group data for all laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by age group. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2025

Date 1 to 14 years old 15 to 44 years old
31 Dec 20250.881.61
31 Dec 20240.661.53
31 Dec 20231.031.88
31 Dec 20220.891.45
31 Dec 20210.861.54
31 Dec 20201.231.44
31 Dec 20190.971.40
31 Dec 20181.151.76
31 Dec 20171.092.16
Date 45 to 64 years old 65 to 74 years old
31 Dec 20252.982.86
31 Dec 20242.392.28
31 Dec 20232.982.37
31 Dec 20222.322.10
31 Dec 20212.621.96
31 Dec 20202.021.82
31 Dec 20192.332.53
31 Dec 20182.722.80
31 Dec 20172.733.04
Date 75 to 84 years old 85 years and older
31 Dec 20251.760.40
31 Dec 20241.410.47
31 Dec 20231.450.48
31 Dec 20221.160.35
31 Dec 20210.940.43
31 Dec 20200.960.15
31 Dec 20191.370.44
31 Dec 20181.600.52
31 Dec 20171.580.30
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The disaggregation of data by sex and age does not include cases missing either age or sex information. The following cases were excluded from the age and sex rate calculations: 2017–2024: 55 cases were excluded, including 6 case with missing age information, 48 cases with missing or invalid sex information, and 1 case missing both age and sex data. 2025: 46 cases were excluded, including 3 cases with missing age information, 41 cases with missing sex information, and 2 cases missing both age and sex data.