The number of deaths was also lower than a year ago in the 3rd quarter, lower number of people died even compared to the average before the pandemic

The most significant decrease in mortality was recorded in the group of people of productive age compared to the average of 2015-2019. From a regional point of view, it was recorded in Žilinský kraj and Nitriansky kraj. The only population group in which the number of deaths still exceeded pre-pandemic values by more than 10% were younger seniors under the age of 75.

The total mortality rate in Slovakia remained below the long-term average before the pandemic even in the third quarter of this year. In total, 12.3 thousand people died in the SR from July to September 2023, which is by 11.7% lower number of people (by 1.6 thousand) year-on-year. At the same time, there were by 2.8% lower number of deaths than the five-year average of 2015-2019 before the onset of the pandemic¹⁾. This follows from preliminary data on the number of deaths and causes of death for the 3rd quarter of 2023, which the Statistical Office of the SR has currently published.

"From the beginning of this year, the lower death rate in the year-on-year comparison and also compared to the five-year average, in addition to the recession of the pandemic, is mainly influenced by smaller number of deaths from the long-term most important cause of death - diseases of the circulatory system," said Zuzana Podmanická, the Director of the Population Statistics Department of the Statistical Office of the SR.

The favourable situation was also reflected in a drop of the gross mortality rate in the third quarter of this year. The number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants²⁾ declined to 905 deaths. In the third quarter of last year, it represented a value of 1,024 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and on average for the same period of the last 5 years before the pandemic, it was at the level of 929 deaths. The gross death rate was thus lower than the five-year average before the pandemic in all three quarters of this year.

Significantly lower number of people died in the group of people of productive age

The largest group of those who died were seniors aged 65 and over, they accounted for almost 77% of all deaths (9.5 thousand people). Their number was by 1.5% higher than the five-year average before the pandemic, but by 12% lower than in the same period last year. While the number of older seniors over 75 who died was almost by 4% lower than before the pandemic, a relatively high excess mortality was still recorded in the group of younger seniors (from 65 to 74 years old) compared to the pre-pandemic average¹⁾, i.e. by 14%.

"In the category of younger seniors, the excess mortality was maintained above 10% even in the previous quarters of this year. The number of younger seniors who died in the months when the pandemic culminated exceeded the average values even more than twice," said Zuzana Podmanická, Director of the Population Statistics Department of the Statistical Office of the SR.

The number of deaths in the group of people of productive age (15 to 64 years) significantly decreased even in the 3rd quarter of 2023. It decreased by more than a tenth year-on-year and even by 15% compared to the five-year average. In this age category, 2.7 thousand people died in the first three months of this year.

The number of deaths decreased year-on-year in all SR regions

In seven regions, their number was lower even compared to the average before the pandemic¹⁾. Only in Prešovský kraj the number of deaths slightly exceeded the five-year average. The situation improved most significantly in Bratislavský kraj and Košický kraj, year-on-year. Žilinský kraj (4.7%) and Nitriansky kraj (4.3%) had the highest decrease in mortality rates compared to the corresponding period not marked by the pandemic.

After taking into account the size of the regions in terms of population, the gross mortality rate was the lowest in Bratislavský kraj and Prešovský kraj  with around 800 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants. That is, significantly lower than the average for the entire Slovakia, which represented 905 persons. The worst situation in the SR was in Nitriansky kraj and Banskobystrický kraj, where the mortality rate represented more than 1 000 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants in the 3rd quarter.

The share of deaths from tumors has been increasing for the third quarter

From the beginning of 2023, the long-term most important cause of death in the SR³⁾ – diseases of the circulatory system, which represented 44% of deaths (5.4 thousand people) in the months of July to September, contributed significantly to lower total mortality. Their number decreased by 14.4% year-on-year and by 8% compared to the pre-pandemic average.

The second most important cause of death- tumors, the share of which in the total number of deaths has been increasing slightly for the third consecutive quarter, currently representing 29%. Year-on-year, the number of deaths due to this cause increased by 5% and compared to the pre-pandemic average by more than 2%. In total, 3.5 thousand people died of tumors in the 3rd quarter.

The third most important cause of death- diseases of the respiratory system, representing almost 7% of the total deaths. This cause of death also contributed to the year-on-year decrease in mortality, which was by 28% less than last year. Compared to the average for the corresponding pre-pandemic  period, their number increased by 1%.

Only 19 people died from the infection of COVID-19 between July and September of this year, while in the corresponding period of 2022 there were 324. COVID-19 was ranked among the causes only slightly affecting mortality rate, with a 0.2% share of the total number of deaths.