Inhabitants Increase - In NRW, the death count deceased for the initial occurrence in 2023.
For the first time since 2019, the death toll in North Rhine-Westphalia has decreased. The Statistical Office of North Rhine-Westphalia (IT.NRW) reports that 226,034 individuals passed away in Germany's most populous federal state over the past year, representing a 3.5% drop from 2022. Notably, there were all-time highs in deaths in NRW from 2020 to 2022, with the highest number recorded in 2022 at over 234,000.
January and March saw significant numbers of deaths, with 21,731 and 21,479, respectively. The number of deaths decreased in the summer months but increased again towards the end of the year. Notably, deaths in the second half of 2023 dropped by 9.2% compared to 2022.
Contrary to other free cities and districts, the number of deceased in Cologne (1.2% increase), Leverkusen (0.4% increase), and Bochum (0.4% increase) rose. The most striking decrease in deaths was observed in Oberhausen (-9.6%), Bottrop (-8.6%), and the Märkischer Kreis (-8.3%).
IT.NRW published a statement regarding these findings.
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The decrease in deaths in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2023 contributes to the overall population growth, as the birth rate in the region has been consistently higher than the death rate. Despite the decrease, North Rhine-Westphalia still has one of the highest death counts among Germany's federal states. The Statistical Office of North Rhine-Westphalia (IT.NRW) will continue to monitor and analyze death statistics in Düsseldorf and other cities within the state.
