In 2020, 59,000 people died in Slovakia, which is almost 5,500 more than average in the last five years. According to the Slovak Statistical Office, last year’s number of deaths is the highest since World War II, as in 1945, the country registered 67,000 deaths.
The number of deaths increased by 10.2 percent compared to the previous five years. In December, for example, 58 percent more people died than the average in prior years.
The number of deceased seniors over the age of 65 then rose by 15 percent in December. Compared to previous years, the mortality rate in this category increased by 71.1 percent or 5,900 deaths.
“Mortality statistics were significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and deaths due to COVID-19,” the statistical office stated.
In October, the authorities recorded an increase in deaths by 22.5 percent, while the next month, it was as much as 40.6 percent.
“Until September, approximately the same number of people died as in previous years. However, since October, the growth rate of the number of deaths has gained momentum,” said Zuzana Podmanická, director of the Department of Population Statistics.
In December, a total of 7,282 people died in Slovakia. The largest increase in deaths was in the Trenčín, Nitra, Prešov, and Košice regions. On the contrary, the Bratislava and Banská Bystrica regions recorded the lowest rise.
