Mortality rising further in week 43

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
Doctor visiting older man
© Hollandse Hoogte / Jaco Klamer
The estimated number of deaths in week 43 (19 to 25 October inclusive) stands at over 3,450. This is 250 more than in the previous week, when there were 3,197 deaths. Mortality was elevated in week 43, with nearly 600 more deaths recorded than normally expected in this period. The elevated mortality coincides with the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic in the Netherlands. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on a provisional weekly death count.

Estimated mortality, 2020*
 DeathsEstimated mortalityEstimated mortality (95% interval)
1310332772908 – 3645
2336433112930 – 3692
3315733442945 – 3742
4304633923008 – 3776
5316234073027 – 3788
6319334012979 – 3823
7319934082916 – 3901
8295933872851 – 3922
9309733522805 – 3898
10310533152785 – 3845
11321732532756 – 3751
12361531742711 – 3637
13445931042703 – 3505
14508430242712 – 3337
15497929572719 – 3195
16430429152711 – 3120
17390728692677 – 3060
18337828412650 – 3032
19298628212633 – 3009
20277427942626 – 2962
21277027702620 – 2920
22272627532608 – 2898
23268227352591 – 2880
24269127372600 – 2875
25269427252594 – 2855
26265927172577 – 2857
27263627232544 – 2902
28261827192515 – 2923
29252627202507 – 2934
30267227072515 – 2900
31265926872492 – 2882
32263826822483 – 2881
33320726692481 – 2857
34284626632510 – 2815
35273126672526 – 2807
36268226762549 – 2804
37273426982564 – 2832
38271227292585 – 2873
39288327522618 – 2886
40299327862628 – 2943
41300528072655 – 2960
42319728392677 – 3001
43345228622661 – 3063
4428892683 – 3095
4529022692 – 3111
4629322710 – 3155
4729722742 – 3202
4830122762 – 3263
4930372742 – 3332
5031002800 – 3399
5131662830 – 3501
5232222871 – 3573
* Provisional figures. Week 43 is an estimate.

Mainly more deaths among men

In week 43, mortality was up mainly among men. An estimated 1,800 men and 1,650 women passed away. In the previous week, the number of deaths among men and women stood at 1,598 and 1,599 respectively.

Mortality in week 43 rose in the age groups 65 to 79 years and 80 years and over. In week 42, the number of deaths among 65 to 79-year-olds was still slightly down.

Table 1: Weekly mortality by age
PeriodAll ages0 to 64 yrs65 to 79 yrs80 yrs and over
2020, week 31*2,6593728411,446
2020, week 32*2,6384188201,400
2020, week 33*3,2074639281,816
2020, week 34*2,8464148591,573
2020, week 35*2,7313528631,516
2020, week 36*2,6824128251,445
2020, week 37*2,7343928931,449
2020, week 38*2,7123928421,478
2020, week 39*2,8833908761,617
2020, week 40*2,9934339101,650
2020, week 41*3,0053749821,649
2020, week 42*3,1974269751,796
2020, week 43*3,4524251,0951,932
* Provisional figures. Week 43 is an estimate.

More deaths among long-term care users and the rest of the population

Based on the estimate, mortality among both long-term care users and the rest of the population increased further in week 43. In week 42, the increase was slightly stronger among people receiving care under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz), such as residents of nursing homes, than among the rest of the population.

Estimated mortality, 2020*
 Long-term care (Wlz) users, deathsLong-term care (Wlz) users, estimated mortalityLong-term care (Wlz) users, estimated mortality (95% interval)Other population, deathsOther population, estimated mortalityOther population, estimated mortality (95% interval)
1121012521052 – 1451189320251780 – 2270
2126512721076 – 1468209920391793 – 2285
3113512821086 – 1478202220621805 – 2319
4112513011113 – 1489192120911842 – 2339
5109813101118 – 1503206420971853 – 2341
6114213091099 – 1519205120921826 – 2358
7115513091069 – 1549204420991796 – 2403
8112912961044 – 1549183020911762 – 2419
9119512761005 – 1546190220761756 – 2396
1011641260989 – 1531194120561752 – 2359
1112001229950 – 1507201720251741 – 2308
1213351191928 – 1454228019831714 – 2252
1316561156912 – 1400280319481715 – 2180
1422121120915 – 1326287219041709 – 2100
1524091091910 – 1273257018661709 – 2022
1620661075912 – 1238223818401691 – 1990
1717161055898 – 1211219118141663 – 1965
1814291048900 – 1195194917931643 – 1944
1911861038897 – 1179180017831631 – 1935
2010311029902 – 1155174317651615 – 1915
2110691015892 – 1138170117551615 – 1895
2210041007887 – 1127172217461602 – 1890
23909995886 – 1104177317401585 – 1895
24958997888 – 1106173317401592 – 1889
25912989879 – 1099178217361585 – 1886
26940985864 – 1107171917321585 – 1879
27931992850 – 1134170517311567 – 1896
28911998849 – 1147170717211552 – 1890
299001003855 – 1152162617171555 – 1879
309571004854 – 1154171517041553 – 1855
31946997851 – 1143171316901540 – 1840
32904993846 – 1140173416901546 – 1834
331311987840 – 1134189616821531 – 1832
341113980849 – 1111173316831553 – 1813
35995974860 – 1087173616931550 – 1835
36942973860 – 1087174017031562 – 1844
37942977865 – 1089179217211579 – 1862
38979989876 – 1102173317401594 – 1886
3910541001892 – 1110182917511606 – 1896
4010761015897 – 1133191717711632 – 1909
4110891028908 – 1147191617801638 – 1922
4212151042910 – 1175198217971663 – 1930
4313161054912 – 1195213618081650 – 1966
441068920 – 121518211662 – 1981
451074925 – 122418271664 – 1991
461086936 – 123518461678 – 2014
471102953 – 125218701684 – 2056
481121964 – 127818921702 – 2081
491135970 – 130019011683 – 2120
501163996 – 132919371721 – 2153
5111931019 – 136819721739 – 2205
5212231035 – 141019991763 – 2236
* Provisional figures. Week 43 is an estimate.

Mortality as of week 39 higher than expected

With the exception of elevated mortality in weeks 33 and 34 during the heat wave, the average weekly death count fell slightly below the expected levels as of week 19 had there not been a coronavirus epidemic. Prior to this, mortality was elevated for nine weeks on account of the COVID-19 epidemic. During the first wave of the epidemic, 10 thousand people died for whom COVID-19 was the confirmed or suspected cause of death.

For week 43, the municipal health services (GGD) reported 221 confirmed COVID-19 deaths to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), and 218 confirmed cases for week 42. Because possibly not all people with COVID-19 have themselves tested and registration sometimes takes a little longer, the actual COVID-19-related death count in the Netherlands is likely to turn out higher.

More details next Friday

The figures for week 43 are estimates, based on 83 percent of the overall number of death records to be received by CBS. CBS will publish provisional weekly mortality figures for week 43 on Friday 6 November. The figures will be more complete by then.