In the last week of December, an estimated 3,500 people died in the Netherlands. That is less than in previous weeks. Mainly due to a decrease in mortality among the over-80s, there was just no excess mortality, according to figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Excess mortality means that more people die than is normal for the period of the year. In all previous weeks in December there was an excess of mortality. On average, in December, just like in November, nearly 900 more people died per week than expected. In the last week of December that was 300 people.
CBS does not yet know what caused these people to die. It is known from previous corona waves that the excess mortality was largely explained by Covid-19. In week 52, RIVM registered 105 deceased covid-19 patients. In all of December there were 1,355.
under 65s
It is estimated that more than 1900 people aged 80 or older died in the last week of last year, which is almost equal to the expected mortality for that week. That week there was an excess of mortality among people younger than 65 years. It is estimated that more than 450 people died in that age group. That’s about 50 more than expected.
In the province of Zeeland, the excess mortality was highest in December at 55 percent. Also in Limburg (43 percent) and in Flevoland (42 percent) the excess mortality was clearly higher than for the Netherlands as a whole. Noord-Holland and Groningen had the lowest excess mortality at 19 and 20 percent.
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