In Germany, the primary reason for mortality stays consistent.
For the first time in four years, the number of fatalities in Germany dropped in 2023 compared to the year prior. The decline was also observed in the two leading causes of death. The data suggests a relaxation of the COVID-19 situation, such as an uptick in flu-related mortalities.
Heart ailments ruled as the most common reason for fatalities in Germany last year once more. A third (33.9 percent) of all deaths were due to heart attacks, strokes, or related conditions, as revealed by the Federal Statistical Office. Cancer was responsible for more than one-fifth (22.4 percent) of fatalities.
Both causes of death witnessed a decrease compared to the previous year: 2.7 percent fewer people succumbed to heart ailments, and 0.5 percent fewer lost their lives to cancer.
Decrease in overall fatalities
For the first time since 2019, the overall death toll also took a dip: from 1.07 million fatalities in 2022 to 1.03 million individuals in 2023, marking a decrease of 3.6 percent. Over half of the women who perished, and nearly a third of the men, were 85 years or older.
More individuals died from the flu or pneumonia: the case count surged by 13.1 percent to nearly 20,900, following an increase of 30 percent the year prior.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number in this category had noticeably dwindled - precautions also impeded infections with other diseases. In 2023, the rate of flu and pneumonia fatalities, at 2.0 percent of all causes, was roughly back to its pre-pandemic level, according to the office.
Substantial decrease in COVID-19 fatalities
COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death in 25,768 cases last year, representing 2.5 percent of all cases, a decrease of 50.8 percent from the previous year.
Last year, 49,400 people succumbed to unnatural causes such as accidents or poisoning. Around 20,800 people died from falls.
10,300 people committed suicide, a rise of 1.8 percent compared to the previous year. According to the office, this increase is predominantly due to a rise in suicides among women (up 8 percent), while the number among men slightly decreased (down 0.3 percent). Overall, suicides accounted for a similar percentage of deaths as in previous years, around 1.0 percent.
Hint: In an earlier version of this article, it was mentioned that the number of deaths had decreased for the first time since 2016. However, the correct year is 2019. The Federal Statistical Office has since amended its press release.
The data suggesting the relaxation of the COVID-19 situation was primarily observed in the increase of flu-related mortalities, as reported by the [Federal Statistical Office]. The third leading cause of death in Germany last year was attributed to falls, accounting for 20,800 fatalities, as per the office's findings.
