953 COVID-19 deaths in third quarter of 2021

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Patricia Rehe
In Q3 2021, altogether 953 people died due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), i.e. 2.5 percent of all deaths in that period. COVID-19 mortality was lower than in the previous quarter, when there were 2,602 deaths with COVID-19 as the probable or confirmed cause of death. This is evident from provisional figures on causes of death, reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

In July, 177 people died from COVID-19, in August 435 and in September 341.

COVID-19 deaths, monthly
jaarmaand80 yrs and over65 to 79 yrs0 to 64 yrs
2020March1318764128
2020April42631775340
2020May91533676
2020June1876317
2020July62264
2020August1143915
2020September2347825
2020October1454614104
2020November2193889154
2020December26871108191
2021*January30321238188
2021*February1704715157
2021*March875625146
2021*April518690198
2021*May310498138
2021*June8212345
2021*July975030
2021*August26112153
2021*September17911448
*provisional figures

Relatively more COVID-19 deaths among people under 80

From the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 until September 2021 inclusive, a total of 32,408 people died with probable or confirmed COVID-19 as the cause of death. Sixty-three percent were 80 years or older, 30 percent were between the ages of 65 and 79, and 6 percent were under 65.

As of March 2021, a temporary change was visible in the ratio between the age groups, when relatively more people under 80 died due to COVID-19. In Q2 2021, 50 percent of all COVID-19 deaths were people between 65 and 79, 15 percent were under the age of 65 and 35 percent were older than 80. In Q3 2021, a small majority (56 percent) were over 80, 30 percent were aged 65 to 79 years and 14 percent were younger than 65.

Age distribution of COVID-19 mortality, monthly
jaarmaand80 yrs and over (%)65 to 79 yrs (%)0 to 64 yrs (%)
2020March59.634.65.8
2020April66.827.85.3
2020May69.025.35.7
2020June70.023.66.4
2020July67.428.34.4
2020August67.923.28.9
2020September69.423.27.4
2020October66.928.34.8
2020November67.827.54.8
2020December67.427.84.8
2021*January68.027.74.2
2021*February66.227.86.1
2021*March53.238.08.9
2021*April36.849.114.1
2021*May32.852.614.6
2021*June32.849.218.0
2021*July54.828.317.0
2021*August60.027.812.2
2021*September52.533.414.1
*provisional figures

Among 65 to 79-year-olds, weekly mortality was higher than expected mainly in June and July, CBS reported in an earlier news release. Mortality among the over-80s in July was around the expected level for that month. In the group of people under 65, there was excess mortality in April and in a few weeks of May and June.

4 in 10 COVID-19 deaths concerned long-term care recipients

Of those who died due to COVID-19 in Q3 2021, 42 percent (404) had been receiving care under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz), including residents of nursing homes and institutions for the disabled. This share was higher than in Q2, when it stood at 16 percent, but lower than in the four preceding quarters.

Excess mortality in August and September

In July, when there were relatively few COVID-19 deaths, weekly mortality was around the expected level for that month. In August (as of week 31) and September (as of week 35), there was excess mortality and the number of COVID-19 deaths rose again. Weekly mortality was higher than expected in the following period as well. Only in the last week of December was there no excess mortality.

Mortality and causes of death, weekly
jaarmaandCauses of death excl. COVID-19COVID-19 as cause of deathMortality (death cause unconfirmed)Expected mortality
2020131033277
2020233643311
2020331573344
2020430463392
2020531643407
2020631963401
2020731983408
2020829593387
2020930983352
202010310253315
2020113183353253
20201232024123174
202013320812503104
202014316419213024
202015300419772957
202016283914692915
202017281610952869
20201827156672841
20201925554352821
20202024942832794
20202125522172770
20202225841492753
20202325741072735
2020242624662737
2020252646492725
2020262626342717
2020272605322723
2020282594252719
202029252182720
2020302654182707
2020312644222687
2020322613282682
2020333159522669
2020342806482663
2020352705312667
2020362666272676
2020372709322698
2020382655672729
20203927521392752
20204028051952786
20204127552692807
20204227864342839
20204328066432862
20204428318562889
20204526958942902
20204627997822932
20204726676682972
20204827526523012
20204929156143037
20205029186973100
20205129699423166
202052274311243222
202053291411893266
2021*1300011443309
2021*2282710253343
2021*328799833376
2021*428968203425
2021*529207343440
2021*628616893434
2021*728776513441
2021*827055023420
2021*926824233384
2021*1028613843347
2021*1126923513285
2021*1227103353205
2021*1328143643134
2021*1428343303054
2021*1527983432986
2021*1628433022944
2021*1728073182897
2021*1827232802869
2021*1927772412849
2021*2027991902821
2021*2126921142797
2021*2228931162780
2021*232820642762
2021*242820512764
2021*252648272751
2021*262771222743
2021*272817212750
2021*282853192745
2021*292708682747
2021*302841722734
2021*3128501092713
2021*3227381022708
2021*332810892695
2021*3428231062688
2021*352773872693
2021*362998922702
2021*372827912724
2021*382833562755
2021*393014582778
2021*4030702813
2021*4130622835
2021*4232732866
2021*4333852889
2021*4435152917
2021*4537842930
2021*4639942960
2021*4741903001
2021*4843873042
2021*4943643066
2021*5040363130
2021*5137403196
2021*5236443253
*provisional figures

Lower seasonal peaks in mortality from respiratory diseases

During the first wave of coronavirus, excess mortality was entirely attributable to COVID-19. During the subsequent waves at the end of 2020 and at the beginning of 2021, however, COVID-19 mortality was higher than excess mortality, and fewer people died from a number of other causes of death. There were mainly fewer deaths related to respiratory diseases during the peaks in the winter season. This was due to the absence of an influenza wave in Q1 2021. There were also fewer deaths from mental disorders and diseases of the nervous system (including Alzheimer's disease and dementia).

Mortality by cause of death, monthly
jaarmaandNeoplasmsCardiovascular diseasesMental disorders and diseases of the nervous systemRespiratory diseasesNon-natural causes of deathCOVID-19
2015January4113405720141727676
2015February3474359717441633629
2015March3877380417671508597
2015April3813335315291076577
2015May371532611470923569
2015June369629181401790571
2015July389429381498839587
2015August382727991464685595
2015September382329011447727572
2015October395632221544902650
2015November376831251506906603
2015December383434041625965627
2016January4064369718511331685
2016February3780341317531350632
2016March4072365718441345712
2016April3854318416151043625
2016May389332461677912619
2016June376829001507740587
2016July384129541594813637
2016August379228181587740600
2016September397228211551677584
2016October405932381616795680
2016November391932031731900644
2016December3962351620231338709
2017January4054407523692129773
2017February3659349119571735660
2017March3945341917681209685
2017April376331201601905617
2017May391332191696966618
2017June382827251542824612
2017July397627151608731671
2017August388527611569698622
2017September385528021579763608
2017October383630411640910611
2017November381631801696942728
2017December4026360520031153766
2018January4101380522341670768
2018February3721360121492059744
2018March4215386924662421757
2018April3760302916651141688
2018May385529751572863695
2018June377827331537785646
2018July383728331771835750
2018August388127461848710644
2018September371026521658715692
2018October399030161660832767
2018November390030901645868712
2018December3909344617851145768
2019January4105351120121335780
2019February3671310918801412716
2019March4091342319401428728
2019April3825315417751129702
2019May391530581771994674
2019June378927891640838683
2019July402130801736779735
2019August395926971748800686
2019September371127281650690682
2019October390632561701960745
2019November3990333718671000717
2019December4007339918311259826
2020January4132358519331363803
2020February3820327017401237742
2020March41253407200613637842210
2020April3860299418609477666378
2020May3696282314706687101327
2020June384027861386623706267
2020July40262695154066470992
2020August401128561792806794168
2020September380927621578640738337
2020October3994318616257297232172
2020November3795297215196727153236
2020December3981328616207918403986
2021*January3948339916458247984458
2021*February3452300714376747082576
2021*March3884308714717167531646
2021*April3921306415047337821406
2021*May380130901572763705946
2021*June395827571657745746250
2021*July397129451707820766177
2021*August387728381715832711435
2021*September391528251649813735341

Excess mortality and COVID-19 mortality

Figures on causes of death are based on the cause-of-death certificates completed by an attending medical practitioner. These figures are processed by CBS and published after four months. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Dutch government report the number of COVID-19 deaths on a weekly basis. This number is lower than the number CBS publishes at a later stage on the basis of causes of death, due to the fact that there is no obligation to report COVID-19 deaths to RIVM. It is also possible that a medical practitioner establishes COVID-19 as the cause of death on the basis of the clinical picture without laboratory testing. CBS published weekly mortality figures (mortality per week), before information on causes of death is known.

From March 2020 to 30 September 2021 inclusive (as at 26 January 2022), RIVM reported 18,202 COVID-19 deaths based on data received from the municipal health services (GGD). In the same period, CBS registered 32,408 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 deaths based on cause-of-death certificates.