Issue of excess deaths ‘dogging Europe since 2020’
Portugal recorded an 8.8% increase in the number of deaths in August compared to the previous month and a 2.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022, according to data released by Statistics Portugal (INE) on Friday.
According to INE’s vital statistics, which break down information on mortality, births and marriages, there were 9,493 deaths in August, 8.8% more (766 more) than in July and 2.1% more (198 more) than in the same month in 2022.
Last month 86 more people died from Covid-19 than in July, totalling 226 deaths and representing 2.4% of all deaths.
Compared to August last year, there were 10 fewer deaths due to Covid-19. In other words, the excess deaths cannot be blamed on Covid-19.
Presenting only July data on live births and marriages, INE said that 7,318 babies were born, corresponding to an increase of 5.2% (365 more) compared to June but a decrease of 0.3% compared to July 2022, when 7,337 live births were registered.
In the first seven months of the year, the number of babies born rose by 4.5% (2,083 more) to 48,673, compared to the same period in 2022, when 46,590 live births were recorded.
In July, despite being negative, the ‘natural balance’ – the difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths in a given period – fell compared to the previous month (1,839 fewer) and the same month in 2022 (3,388 fewer).
From January to July, the accumulated value of the natural balance was negative by 20,534 people, representing a reduction compared to the same period in 2022, which registered 24,659 fewer.
INE also added that 4,577 marriages took place in Portugal in July, 7.7% less (381 fewer) than in the same month in 2022.
Looking at the first seven months of the year, 19,486 marriages were celebrated, 2.9% more (556 more) than in the same period last year.
Source material: LUSA
