Weekly deaths in Poland 2019-2023
Deaths per week in Poland fluctuated strongly between 2019 and 2023. Nevertheless, the number of deaths in 2023 has generally fallen compared to previous years. To give an illustration: In the 52nd week of the calendar in 2023, more than 2.2 thousand fewer people died compared to the same period in 2022. The most deaths in the observation period were recorded in the 45th calendar week of 2020, with 16,242.
Diseases and their consequences
The main reason for the sharp rise in deaths in 2020 was probably the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. By March 2023, almost 3,000 per one million people in Poland had died as a result of the virus. Although this is comparatively low compared to other CEE countries, the peak phase strongly influences the weekly death figures. Bulgaria was hit particularly heavily among the CEE countries in terms of deaths. Another factor can be various disease patterns in Poland. In May 2022, although 32 percent of diagnosed diseases were Covid-19, 29 percent were hypertension.
Death rate in comparison
In absolute figures, however, 2021 is the year with the most deaths in the observation period, with 519,500 deaths. In comparison, Hungary only had 155,620 deaths in the same period. Despite this, the average age in Poland has been rising for decades and will continue to do so in the coming decades. It is, therefore, interesting to note that while the death rate fluctuates, life expectancy is rising continuously.
