Greece is first and by far in excess mortality in August
MICHALIS KARAGIANNIS/EUROKINISSI
Greece had the highest percentage of excess mortality, more than double the average, in August 2022, according to Eurostat data.
While the average in the European Union was 12%, in our country the excess mortality reached 24.3%, followed by Ireland with 16.8% and Germany with 16.5%.
The importance of the indicator
The monthly excess mortality index is based on the weekly death data collection produced by Eurostat, in April 2020, to support policy and research efforts related to Covid-19. With this data collection, Eurostat aimed to provide rapid statistics to assess the changing situation of the total number of deaths on a weekly basis, from the beginning of 2020 onwards.
The Office for National Statistics provides available data on total weekly deaths, disaggregated by sex, age group and region over the past 20 years, on a voluntary basis.
In December 2020, Eurostat published a European Statistical Recovery Table which also contains indicators tracking economic and social developments, including health.
In this context, “excess mortality” offers evidence to monitor and further analyze the direct and indirect impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As Eurostat notes, the monthly excess mortality index draws attention to the scale of the crisis by providing a comprehensive comparison of excess deaths across European countries and allowing further analysis of its causes. The number of deaths from all causes is compared with the expected number of deaths during a certain period in the past. The reasons for excess mortality can vary with different phenomena. The index simply compares the total number of deaths from all causes with the expected number of deaths during a certain period in the past.
Change in excess mortality in August
- Greece… 24.3%
- Ireland… 16.8%
- Germany… 16.5%
- Finland… 16.3%
- Spain… 15.2%
- Netherlands… 14.5%
- Denmark… 14%
- Slovenia… 13.6%
- France… 12.3%
- Cyprus… 12.1%
- Lithuania… 11.8%
- Poland… 11.4%
- Austria… 10.9%
- Estonia… 10.5%
- Luxembourg… 10.5%
- Belgium… 9.5%
- Portugal… 9.2%
- Italy… 8.9%
- Malta… 8.6%
- Croatia… 7.8%
- Latvia… 7.2%
- Sweden… 6.7%
- Romania… 6.6%
- Czech Republic… 5.2%
- Bulgaria… 5.1%
- Slovakia… 3.9%
- Hungary… 2.4%