In 2020, among the 26 EU Member States for which data are available (all except Ireland), there were 168,000 more deaths in weeks 10 to 26 (March to June) than the average number of deaths in the same period over the four years 2016 to 2019, according to data released by the EU's statistical office (Eurostat) on Monday 19 October.
These data include all deaths, regardless of cause, but may be useful in assessing the direct and indirect effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the European population.
Of the 26 Member States, the highest number of additional deaths was recorded in Spain (48,000), followed closely by Italy (46,000), France (30,000), Germany and the Netherlands (around 10,000 each). The remaining 21 countries recorded a total of 25,000 additional deaths during the same period.
Compared to the average number of deaths for the years 2016 to 2019, more than twice as many deaths were recorded in Spain in weeks 13 to 15, followed by Belgium in week 15.
EU countries and regions have been affected differently. Analysis at regional level (NUTS 3) of excess mortality over the period under consideration shows that the highest rates were observed in the regions of central Spain (Segovia) and northern Italy (Bergamo).
In the 26 Member States for which data are available, older people were most affected. Among people aged 70 and over, 161,000 additional deaths - or 96% of the total - were reported, while over the same period, this age group accounted for 76% of all deaths in 2016-2019 and 78% of all deaths in the current year.
More info at: https://bit.ly/37iYgMu (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)