In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, 4,609 people died in Luxembourg, which represented a 7.6% increase compared to the previous year. In 2021, the rate decreased by 2.6%, with 120 fewer people dying than in 2020. In this regard, it is important to note that the country’s population also increased by 1.7% in 2021.
Life expectancy has not been significantly affected by the pandemic, notes the STATEC report: 84.8 years for women and 80.3 years for men. The fact that the coronavirus has caused more deaths among older citizens may have contributed to the stability.
Compared to other European countries, death rates in Luxembourg only recorded minor impacts from the pandemic. In Spain, for instance, the rate went up by 80.8% during the first infection wave. The one in neighbouring Belgium increased by 73.1%.
The STATEC report states that if not for the coronavirus restrictions put in place in 2020 and 2021, the mortality rate in Luxembourg would have been much higher. The Institute further found that the virus had a lesser effect in 2021 with 9% of deaths affected by it, compared to 11% in 2020.
