By Claire Edicson
New research from BoyleSports has revealed the most ‘overdue’ National Lottery numbers, including number 21, which hasn’t been seen for almost half a year, as well as the least frequently drawn digits over the last decade.
Credit: Getty
For those who pay close attention to lottery trends, fresh analysis from BoyleSports who present the latest online lotto options, might prompt a rethink of number-picking tactics.
With the National Lottery conducting draws twice a week, every result is completely random, yet some numbers have gone longer than others without being drawn – whether that changes soon remains to be seen.
BoyleSports’ insight spans nearly a decade, covering all 996 draws since the lottery expanded to 59 balls in October 2015 up to Wednesday’s draw on the 23rd April 2025, which saw the jackpot roll over to Saturday.
Their findings highlight which numbers have been drawn the least and which have been missing for the longest stretch.
Topping the list of the most overdue numbers is ball 21, last appearing 146 days ago on 30th November 2024.
Following closely behind, 49 hasn’t been drawn for 135 days, while 16 has been absent for 111 days.
Ball 23 last appeared 90 days ago, and both 25 and 32 have gone unseen for 83 days.
The Most Overdue Numbers In Full:
- 21 – Last drawn 146 days ago (Saturday, 30th November 2024)
- 49 – Last drawn 135 days ago (Wednesday, 11th December 2024)
- 16 – Last drawn 111 days ago (Saturday 4th January 2025)
- 23 – Last drawn 90 days ago (Saturday 25th January 2025)
- 25 – Last drawn 83 days ago (Saturday 1st February 2025)
- 32 – Last drawn 83 days ago (Saturday 1st February 2025)
Will they finally resurface soon or remain elusive for even longer?
Not only has 21 been missing for the longest period of time, but it’s also the least frequently drawn number in history, appearing just 87 times since the lottery expanded in 2015.
Ball 48 hadn’t been seen since October last year until Wednesday 16th April 2025, and is the joint second least frequent digit alongside 30, sharing the same low total of 88, while 18, 6 and 55 have slightly higher counts but remain relatively rare.
The Least Frequently Drawn Numbers In Full:
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- 21 – Drawn 87 times, last seen 146 days ago
- 48 – Drawn 88 times, last seen 9 days ago
- 30 – Drawn 88 times, last seen 6 days ago
- 18 – Drawn 90 times, last seen 30 days ago
- 6 – Drawn 91 times, last seen 37 days ago
- 55 – Drawn 91 times, last seen 13 days ago
While the National Lottery remains a game of pure chance, the intriguing patterns behind certain numbers – like the elusive ball 21 – continue to capture the attention of those who track these trends.
Whether these ‘overdue’ numbers will make a dramatic return or remain absent for even longer is anyone’s guess, but, as always, it’s important to remember that every draw is entirely random. No number is truly ‘cursed.’
For those who enjoy the thrill of following the numbers, it will be interesting to see which ones break their long streaks of silence in future draws.
About the Author: Claire is a technology journalist with extensive experience covering emerging tech trends, AI developments, and the evolving digital landscape. Her experience helps readers understand complex technological advancements, and how they can be implemented in their everyday lives.
