In 2011, deaths from potentially avoidable causes accounted for approximately 24% of all deaths registered in England and Wales. The leading cause of avoidable deaths was ischaemic heart disease in males and lung cancer in females. In 2011, both conditions represented 22% and 15% of all avoidable male and female deaths respectively in England and Wales. In England and Wales, avoidable mortality rates fell by 28% from 243.2 to 175.8 per 100,000 population between 2001 and 2011. Avoidable mortality rates were significantly higher in Wales than in England throughout the period 2001–11. Avoidable mortality rates varied across the regions of England and tended to be highest in the North of England and lowest in the South and East of England over the period 2001–11.