In Germany, fewer people died in 2023 for the first time in a long time. However, the main reason for deaths remains unchanged.
Cardiovascular diseases are still the most common cause of death in Germany. A third (33.9 percent) of all deaths last year were due to a heart attack, stroke or a similar illness, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. More than a fifth of those who died (22.4 percent) succumbed to cancer.
However, the statistics show a decline in both causes of death compared to 2022: 2.7 percent fewer people died from cardiovascular diseases and 0.5 percent fewer from cancer.
Number of deaths falls for the first time since 2016
Overall, fewer people died in 2023 than in the previous year for the first time since 2016. While there were 1.07 million deaths in 2022, the number fell by 3.6 percent to 1.03 million people in 2023. More than half of the women who died and almost a third of the men who died were 85 years of age or older.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, significantly more people died from flu or pneumonia. The number rose by 13.1 percent to almost 20,900, after having already risen by 30 percent in the previous year.
During the corona pandemic, the values in this area had fallen sharply, as the precautionary measures also prevented further infections. In 2023, flu and pneumonia will now account for 2.0 percent of all causes of death, a level that is roughly equivalent to that before the corona pandemic, the Federal Office explained.
Significant decline in cause of death Covid-19
Last year, Covid-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death in 25,768 cases. That was 2.5 percent of all cases and a decrease of 50.8 percent compared to the previous year.
Last year, 49,400 people died from unnatural causes such as injury or poisoning. Around 20,800 more died from falls.
10,300 people ended their lives by suicide. The number of cases increased by 1.8 percent compared to the previous year. According to the Federal Office, this increase is mainly due to an increase in suicides among women (plus eight percent), while the number for men fell slightly (minus 0.3 percent). As in previous years, suicides accounted for 1.0 percent of the overall causes of death.
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
