Mortality rising further

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Nederlandse Freelancers
More deaths have been registered in recent weeks than the average reported over this amount of time in the past. For week 14 (ending 5 April), the number of deaths is estimated at around 5,100. This is approximately 2 thousand more deaths than the weekly average during the period week 1 to 10 inclusive of this year. This estimate has been based on the number of death certificates received by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) for week 14. Mortality stood at 4,425 deaths in week 13 (ending 26 March). This is reported by CBS and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on the basis of national provisional counts of the number of deaths per week.

Over the period week 1 to week 10 inclusive (ending 8 March 2020), the average number of deaths per week stood at 3,132. This is slightly less than in 2019, when 3,170 deaths were recorded over the same period.

Number of deaths per week
 201720182019*2020*
13568334330643099
23637335932613364
33487336431533151
43626332231793040
53574340331443157
63446351331853188
73417366032533195
83328369132232953
93152393730663087
103054409231723088
112843373332283209
122778343030433586
132850322530144425
142764304029005098
15281028602901
16271327603040
17277826632959
18276926452808
19280226412773
20280126062821
21277226742873
22270127762732
23262426792736
24264325572649
25262726012694
26269126192836
27269727262726
28252026712762
29267427042585
30257127673007
31251027602732
32265727452629
33254026052612
34254526122616
35257625272785
36257026132556
37270725392643
38271527062582
39266926962753
40264128062717
41276327602912
42270627392879
43267626712869
44272628152856
45279727983016
46291627613062
47291728593025
48288629073041
49302729683016
50321830173164
51307930413247
52318729013019
* provisional figures 2020: latest weekly figure is an estimate.

 
The rising mortality coincides with the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis in the Netherlands. The first confirmed COVID-19 patient in the Netherlands was reported on 27 February 2020. The first death involving COVID-19 was reported on 6 March 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.
In week 13 (ending 15 March), 752 deaths involving COVID-19 were reported to RIVM, while mortality in week 14 stood at 1016 (as at Thursday, 9 April 2020). Since not all COVID-19 patients are tested, the actual numbers in the Netherlands are higher than the numbers stated in the report. A more complete picture emerges by looking at the total weekly number of deaths as based on the data received by CBS, regardless of the cause of death.

Rising mortality mainly among elderly people

The rise in mortality is mainly seen among the elderly part of the population. Based on information received so far by CBS, in week 14 mortality rose further among the elderly and those aged 80 and over in particular. The estimated number of deaths among people aged 65 and over is almost 1,900 higher. This represents an increase of 68 percent relative to the weekly average in the first ten weeks of this year. Mortality among elderly people in week 13 was 44 percent higher.
In the age group 0 to 64 years as well, an increase can be seen as of week 11. This is particularly the case among the population over the age of 50. Under 50, the number of deaths is virtually equal to the average over the first ten weeks in 2020.

Number of deaths per week, 2020
 Average week 1 to 10 inclusive* Week 11*Week 12*Week 13*Week 14 (received data)Week 14 (additional estimate)Week 14 (total)*
0 to 64 yrs39640544249139892490
65 to 79 yrs9209461072138812622611523
80 yrs and over181618582072254626913943085
* provisional figures

Higher mortality among men

Over the past few weeks, mortality has risen more sharply among men than women. An initial estimate for week 14 shows that mortality rose among both sexes, but the gap appears to have narrowed compared to the previous week. According to this estimate, the number of deaths in men was almost 75 percent (1,100) higher while mortality in women was over 50 percent (850) higher than the average across the first ten weeks. In week 13, mortality among men was up by over 50 percent; among women, by almost one-third.
Two-thirds of COVID-19 deaths as reported to RIVM were men. The higher mortality rate among men is also reflected in the total mortality.

Number of deaths per week, 2020
 MenWomenMen (received data)Men (additional estimate)Men (total)Women (received data)Women (additional estimate)Women (total)
Average week 1 to 10 inclusive* 15321600
Week 11*15921617
Week 12*18541732
Week 13*23422083
Week 14*2237407264421143402454
* provisional figures

Mortality rising less steeply in Noord-Brabant and Limburg

In the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Limburg, mortality appears to rise less sharply in week 14 (ending 5 April) than in the previous week. Based on the most recently available data, total weekly mortality in these two provinces in week 14, is more than double the respective averages over the first ten weeks of 2020. Weekly mortality in Noord-Brabant and Limburg was already (almost) twice as high in week 13 relative to the first ten weeks. These two provinces have recorded a rise in the number of deaths ever since week 11.
Based on an initial estimate, in week 14 the week-on-week increase in mortality was highest in the province of Zuid-Holland. In week 14, nearly 50 percent more deaths were registered there relative to the ten-week average. Two other provinces recording a sharper increase are Noord-Holland and Gelderland.
Apart from Noord-Brabant and Limburg, the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel also saw almost 50 percent more deaths in week 13 relative to the ten-week average. Furthermore, mortality rose by one-third in Noord-Holland and Utrecht.

Number of deaths per week, 2020
 Week 14 (received data)Week 14 (additional estimate)Week 14 (total)*Week 13*Week 12*Week 11*Average week 1 to 10 inclusive*
Noord-Brabant9321671099964703540481
Zuid-Holland779134913694614615624
Noord-Holland577144721629522456472
Gelderland55477631562450392394
Limburg47462536484330279250
Overijssel28927316303246230216
Utrecht27935314275212211211
Groningen10441145120122116115
Friesland12025145151141123129
Drenthe10511116113105104107
Zeeland86139987938884
Flevoland52116343485551
* provisional figures

Mortality distributions by municipality

In week 13, several municipalities in Noord-Brabant, Limburg and around the city of Zwolle recorded more than double the average number of deaths over the first ten weeks of 2020. The number is even more than four times the average in eight different municipalities, including Boekel, Uden and Peel en Maas.
Mortality figures at the municipal level may fluctuate significantly, especially in the smaller municipalities. A (significant) rise over a particular week may therefore be coincidental and is not necessarily related to the coronavirus crisis.

Deaths registered weekly, relative to the municipality's average across weeks 1 to 101)
 Week 11Week 12Week 13
Appingedam1.041.390.35
Delfzijl0.611.060.61
Groningen (gemeente)0.931.131.02
Loppersum1.290.430.00
Almere1.281.060.80
Stadskanaal1.431.240.76
Veendam0.951.220.95
Zeewolde0.420.830.83
Achtkarspelen0.221.091.09
Ameland1.250.000.00
Harlingen0.600.601.50
Heerenveen1.200.601.54
Leeuwarden0.980.981.11
Ooststellingwerf0.681.690.34
Opsterland1.060.910.76
Schiermonnikoog0.001.330.00
Smallingerland1.361.021.14
Terschelling1.400.003.50
Vlieland3.000.000.00
Weststellingwerf0.741.031.03
Assen1.710.891.38
Coevorden0.830.520.73
Emmen1.111.110.95
Hoogeveen0.361.180.73
Meppel0.610.911.52
Almelo1.011.011.58
Borne1.281.541.79
Dalfsen0.960.960.58
Deventer1.151.152.42
Enschede1.260.951.53
Haaksbergen1.021.840.82
Hardenberg0.890.890.45
Hellendoorn0.960.680.96
Hengelo (O.)1.030.980.69
Kampen1.071.312.26
Losser1.090.870.43
Noordoostpolder0.810.810.70
Oldenzaal1.191.341.79
Ommen0.561.411.41
Raalte1.180.791.58
Staphorst1.501.001.00
Tubbergen0.650.870.87
Urk1.130.001.13
Wierden0.771.350.96
Zwolle1.312.002.34
Aalten1.360.851.36
Apeldoorn1.021.491.65
Arnhem1.221.331.10
Barneveld0.941.290.94
Beuningen0.590.880.59
Brummen1.622.701.62
Buren0.650.431.30
Culemborg1.400.931.86
Doesburg0.431.301.30
Doetinchem1.080.920.58
Druten0.311.251.56
Duiven1.630.700.70
Ede0.741.421.16
Elburg0.850.851.06
Epe0.721.451.74
Ermelo1.050.881.40
Harderwijk1.621.621.22
Hattem0.361.441.44
Heerde0.981.954.63
Heumen1.431.792.50
Lochem1.340.850.85
Maasdriel1.621.081.35
Nijkerk1.071.251.61
Nijmegen0.810.841.86
Oldebroek1.361.141.82
Putten0.890.000.67
Renkum0.631.250.88
Rheden1.180.941.42
Rozendaal0.001.000.00
Scherpenzeel1.890.951.42
Tiel0.851.101.22
Voorst0.960.001.15
Wageningen0.961.061.38
Westervoort1.820.001.36
Winterswijk0.591.620.88
Wijchen1.110.831.67
Zaltbommel1.060.211.49
Zevenaar0.971.291.61
Zutphen0.650.931.20
Nunspeet1.581.752.11
Dronten1.211.381.03
Amersfoort0.751.001.34
Baarn1.151.310.98
De Bilt0.481.050.89
Bunnik0.871.740.00
Bunschoten0.650.321.29
Eemnes1.291.291.29
Houten1.461.460.63
Leusden1.712.441.46
Lopik0.530.001.06
Montfoort1.800.600.00
Renswoude0.000.710.71
Rhenen0.240.981.22
Soest1.210.911.52
Utrecht (gemeente)1.220.971.77
Veenendaal0.501.501.50
Woudenberg0.000.451.35
Wijk bij Duurstede0.610.001.43
IJsselstein0.681.362.95
Zeist1.270.570.96
Nieuwegein0.710.710.95
Aalsmeer0.670.671.33
Alkmaar1.061.331.83
Amstelveen1.321.131.26
Amsterdam0.911.091.53
Beemster0.531.071.07
Bergen (NH.)2.050.261.28
Beverwijk0.881.501.63
Blaricum0.880.001.75
Bloemendaal0.982.351.18
Castricum1.011.011.45
Diemen0.910.910.68
Edam-Volendam0.761.770.51
Enkhuizen1.381.381.72
Haarlem1.100.951.59
Haarlemmermeer1.171.031.13
Heemskerk0.781.110.78
Heemstede0.971.612.90
Heerhugowaard1.172.081.69
Heiloo1.001.800.60
Den Helder0.940.870.79
Hilversum0.900.621.40
Hoorn0.750.681.58
Huizen1.770.211.56
Landsmeer0.000.002.00
Langedijk1.091.961.52
Laren (NH.)0.381.921.15
Medemblik0.901.100.80
Oostzaan0.860.000.86
Opmeer1.502.001.50
Ouder-Amstel0.391.171.57
Purmerend1.121.261.68
Schagen0.790.890.50
Texel0.940.941.25
Uitgeest0.530.001.59
Uithoorn1.432.380.24
Velsen0.661.231.23
Weesp0.671.111.56
Zandvoort1.331.332.22
Zaanstad0.801.000.86
Alblasserdam0.291.140.57
Alphen aan den Rijn1.121.010.73
Barendrecht1.011.010.89
Drechterland1.041.381.38
Brielle1.231.641.23
Capelle aan den IJssel1.111.111.11
Delft0.881.011.07
Dordrecht0.910.821.16
Gorinchem1.611.290.81
Gouda0.880.951.46
's-Gravenhage (gemeente)0.811.001.01
Hardinxveld-Giessendam1.280.770.77
Hellevoetsluis0.781.561.09
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht0.770.380.19
Stede Broec2.121.521.21
Hillegom0.910.910.68
Katwijk0.760.910.98
Krimpen aan den IJssel0.961.731.73
Leiden0.820.871.22
Leiderdorp1.220.821.43
Lisse0.310.940.94
Maassluis0.721.010.43
Nieuwkoop1.521.091.09
Noordwijk0.950.241.43
Oegstgeest1.060.210.85
Oudewater3.502.332.33
Papendrecht1.360.681.69
Ridderkerk0.972.581.51
Rotterdam1.001.091.20
Rijswijk (ZH.)0.881.141.23
Schiedam1.260.960.72
Sliedrecht0.310.781.56
Albrandswaard1.111.391.39
Westvoorne0.640.210.64
Vlaardingen1.250.881.00
Voorschoten0.790.790.95
Waddinxveen1.460.421.04
Wassenaar2.151.690.77
Woerden1.971.051.18
Zoetermeer1.170.891.23
Zoeterwoude0.440.441.31
Zwijndrecht0.780.950.78
Borsele1.130.381.50
Goes0.562.700.90
West Maas en Waal0.541.352.97
Hulst1.130.811.13
Kapelle1.390.701.04
Middelburg (Z.)0.921.121.02
Reimerswaal1.671.390.83
Terneuzen0.930.530.79
Tholen0.911.450.73
Veere1.320.791.32
Vlissingen1.031.031.12
De Ronde Venen1.301.011.01
Tytsjerksteradiel2.182.731.27
Asten1.961.571.96
Baarle-Nassau1.202.401.80
Bergen op Zoom0.961.100.81
Best0.920.771.54
Boekel2.121.067.41
Boxmeer0.781.961.76
Boxtel1.451.943.06
Breda1.331.331.47
Deurne0.452.091.49
Pekela0.330.330.33
Dongen1.110.892.22
Eersel1.581.050.79
Eindhoven1.101.151.69
Etten-Leur1.460.852.32
Geertruidenberg0.431.301.30
Gilze en Rijen0.650.431.52
Goirle0.570.752.64
Grave1.670.832.08
Haaren1.611.612.26
Helmond0.971.701.82
's-Hertogenbosch1.571.571.97
Heusden0.711.432.02
Hilvarenbeek1.350.901.35
Loon op Zand0.871.521.09
Mill en Sint Hubert1.400.470.00
Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten0.750.502.50
Oirschot0.930.701.63
Oisterwijk0.681.021.86
Oosterhout0.730.651.30
Oss0.911.462.74
Rucphen0.850.851.91
Sint-Michielsgestel1.232.462.28
Someren1.781.560.89
Son en Breugel1.861.160.47
Steenbergen0.430.851.06
Waterland1.581.050.79
Tilburg1.002.222.68
Uden2.102.906.77
Valkenswaard1.080.951.62
Veldhoven0.672.172.17
Vught1.341.641.04
Waalre0.931.630.70
Waalwijk0.781.172.72
Woensdrecht0.920.921.38
Zundert1.960.981.76
Wormerland0.900.901.20
Landgraaf1.141.141.70
Beek (L.)0.630.211.25
Beesel1.040.702.09
Bergen (L.)1.581.050.53
Brunssum1.030.901.92
Gennep1.090.822.45
Heerlen1.461.422.17
Kerkrade1.291.082.45
Maastricht1.171.341.62
Meerssen0.752.451.13
Mook en Middelaar0.780.783.11
Nederweert0.931.553.41
Roermond0.970.971.49
Simpelveld0.950.480.48
Stein (L.)0.460.621.38
Vaals1.110.741.11
Venlo1.291.802.08
Venray1.710.921.45
Voerendaal1.162.032.03
Weert1.080.831.50
Valkenburg aan de Geul1.280.850.43
Lelystad0.990.840.84
Horst aan de Maas1.041.953.51
Oude IJsselstreek1.061.280.64
Teylingen0.700.560.85
Utrechtse Heuvelrug0.631.170.63
Oost Gelre0.491.641.31
Koggenland0.240.950.71
Lansingerland0.510.640.90
Leudal1.691.452.89
Maasgouw1.151.311.97
Gemert-Bakel2.132.554.26
Halderberge1.271.591.27
Heeze-Leende0.601.400.60
Laarbeek1.251.004.25
Reusel-De Mierden0.001.360.45
Roerdalen0.480.951.90
Roosendaal1.101.161.03
Schouwen-Duiveland1.390.761.14
Aa en Hunze1.251.251.04
Borger-Odoorn1.150.771.15
Cuijk0.391.761.96
Landerd1.801.203.00
De Wolden1.040.631.46
Noord-Beveland2.000.501.00
Wijdemeren1.021.220.82
Noordenveld1.231.081.08
Twenterand0.630.511.39
Westerveld0.381.350.77
Sint Anthonis2.181.092.55
Lingewaard1.572.002.14
Cranendonck0.831.882.50
Steenwijkerland1.031.131.24
Moerdijk1.101.230.96
Echt-Susteren1.071.431.61
Sluis0.681.361.36
Drimmelen0.751.511.32
Bernheze1.552.244.31
Alphen-Chaam0.480.483.81
Bergeijk0.792.111.32
Bladel1.520.431.30
Gulpen-Wittem0.380.771.15
Tynaarlo0.741.050.95
Midden-Drenthe0.830.831.39
Overbetuwe0.631.001.75
Hof van Twente0.931.400.58
Neder-Betuwe0.260.771.03
Rijssen-Holten1.130.700.85
Geldrop-Mierlo1.171.041.04
Olst-Wijhe1.111.112.00
Dinkelland1.131.130.97
Westland1.011.190.89
Midden-Delfland0.771.151.54
Berkelland0.711.311.31
Bronckhorst1.290.861.71
Sittard-Geleen0.791.311.35
Kaag en Braassem2.061.470.88
Dantumadiel0.001.281.03
Zuidplas0.290.590.74
Peel en Maas1.143.925.70
Oldambt1.410.301.52
Zwartewaterland0.582.032.61
Súdwest-Fryslân1.031.271.52
Bodegraven-Reeuwijk0.820.822.86
Eijsden-Margraten0.630.631.67
Stichtse Vecht0.910.831.40
Hollands Kroon0.471.180.94
Leidschendam-Voorburg0.750.621.30
Goeree-Overflakkee1.860.931.24
Pijnacker-Nootdorp0.750.751.31
Nissewaard1.560.961.56
Krimpenerwaard0.840.841.58
De Fryske Marren0.181.360.82
Gooise Meren0.391.091.33
Berg en Dal0.790.792.18
Meierijstad1.203.664.58
Waadhoeke1.011.241.35
Westerwolde1.430.950.63
Midden-Groningen1.200.931.67
Beekdaelen1.491.351.35
Montferland1.140.911.14
Altena1.100.331.10
West Betuwe1.001.001.44
Vijfheerenlanden1.050.971.45
Hoeksche Waard1.131.191.07
Het Hogeland0.711.431.22
Westerkwartier0.611.221.22
Noardeast-Fryslân1.000.401.10
Molenlanden1.130.190.94