Mortality in Europe has increased sharply due to the coronavirus. Compared to previous years, the coronavirus epidemic in Europe caused an excess mortality peak of 50% of deaths between the end of March and the beginning of April. According to figures from INSEE, France, Spain, Belgium and Italy were the most affected. The increased mortality affected men and people over 50 more, especially those over 70.
Much higher mortality peaks than in previous years
This 50% increase in deaths was recorded in Europe between March 30 and April 6, compared to an average based on the number of deaths in the same week for the period 2016-2019. The excess mortality was then gradually reduced to almost cancel out at the beginning of May. In previous years, mortality tended to decline in March after episodes of seasonal flu.
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On the contrary, it has increased significantly this year, reaching a peak, both in France and in Europe, the week of March 30, reveals the National Institute of Statistics on Wednesday. This proportion reached 60% in France, 155% in Spain, 91% in Belgium (then 107% in this country the following week) and 67% in Italy (88% the previous week, the peak having been reached a week earlier. ).
Little excess mortality in Germany
For a period from March 2 to April 26, almost the bulk (84%) of the excess mortality observed in the 21 European countries for which INSEE has had data is attributable to Spain, Italy , to Belgium and France. The excess mortality was respectively 71% in Spain, 49% in Italy, 44% in Belgium and 28% in France over the whole of the eight weeks when the epidemic was strongest.
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Conversely, in Germany, the most populous country in Europe, excess mortality is much lower (4% over the same period), as for a large part of the countries of central and eastern Europe.