- The leading cause of demise: heart-related ailments
Heart issues and strokes were the leading causes of demise in Germany last year. Around one-third (33.9%) of all fatalities were due to heart attacks, strokes, or related conditions, as per the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. Cancer was responsible for more than one-fifth (22.4%) of deaths.
Both these fatal factors saw a decline compared to the preceding year: 2.7% fewer individuals succumbed to heart issues, and 0.5% fewer fell to cancer.
Lower fatality rate overall
For the first time since 2016, the overall death toll also decreased: from 1,070,000 deceased in 2022 to 1,030,000 individuals in 2023, representing a 3.6% decrease. More than half of the deceased women and nearly a third of the deceased men were 85 years or older.
More people perished from flu or pneumonia: the number of instances increased by 13.1% to nearly 20,900, following an increase of 30% the previous year.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, figures in this area significantly plummeted - as preventive measures also hindered further infections. In 2023, the share of flu and pneumonia in all causes of death reached a level of approximately 2.0%, which is comparable to pre-pandemic levels, explained the Federal Office.
Substantial drop in COVID-19 as a cause of death
COVID-19 was still listed as the primary cause of death in 25,768 instances last year, accounting for 2.5% of all cases and a 50.8% decrease compared to the previous year.
Last year, 49,400 people perished due to unnatural causes such as injuries or poisoning, with approximately 20,800 deaths due to falls.
10,300 people perished by suicide, with the number of instances increasing by 1.8% compared to the previous year. According to the Federal Office, this increase is primarily due to an increase in suicides among women (up by 8%), while the number among men decreased slightly (down by 0.3%). Suicides accounted for a similar share of all causes of death as in previous years, at approximately 1.0%.
The following is an additional cause of concern: The number of suicides saw a slight increase in 2023, with women being disproportionately affected.
To provide more context to the statistics, it's worth noting that 'The following is added:' to the report, highlighting another significant factor in mortality rates.
