Covid-19: Mortality jumped 9.1% in France in 2020, unprecedented increase for 70 years

In a department of the Amiens-Picardie hospital, March 30, 2021. AP - Francois Mori

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This is a consequence of the Covid-19 epidemic: mortality increased by 9.1% in France in 2020, according to INSEE.

This is an unprecedented increase for 70 years.

668,500 deaths have occurred, or 55,000 more than in 2019. An excess mortality which mainly affected people over 70 years of age.

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In one year, mortality jumped 14% among 70-79 year olds and 12% among those over 90, reports INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies).

The Covid-19 epidemic is of course at the origin of

this excess mortality, already observed in January

and never equaled since the 1950s, and which therefore exceeds the exceptional excess mortality of 2003, linked to the

heatwave that

occurred during the summer.

Due to Covid-19, life expectancy in France has even fallen by six months for women and seven months for men.

In the lower middle of Europe

Note that this excess mortality, which particularly affected men, is not uniform throughout the territory.

It has indeed affected the eastern part of the country, the Île-de-France and the Rhône-Alpes much more, but much less the western regions, which see their excess mortality between only 1 and 6%.

Nevertheless, according to INSEE, France is not the most to be pitied in Europe.

Apart from Germany and Luxembourg, the increase in mortality is over 14% in seven of our neighbors.

With an increase of 9%, France is therefore in the low average.

As of March 30, 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic has killed 95,114 in France, according to figures from

Johns-Hopkins University

.

2020: an unprecedented increase in # deaths for 70 years # mortality # Covid19 👉 https://t.co/osRFSkHziH pic.twitter.com/ma98qVWCk0

- Insee (@InseeFr) March 30, 2021

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