With the growing and aging population, the annual number of deaths is also increasing. In 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, mortality increased more than in the preceding period. After relatively stable years, the number of deaths increased again in 2024.
More women than men died
In 2024, 87.2 thousand women and 84.9 thousand men died. The increase compared to the previous year was greater for women than for men. Since 1997, more women than men have died each year. This is because there are more older women in the population who also die at higher ages. Only in 2021, during the pandemic, did more men die than women.
Increase in number of deaths due to aging
In 2024, 57% of the deceased were 80 years or older. There were 2.3 thousand more 80-plus individuals who died compared to the previous year. The increase among those aged 65 to 80 was lower (0.4 thousand). Especially in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, mortality among 80-plus individuals increased, and in the three years following that it was relatively stable. During the first year of the pandemic, the number of deaths in other age groups also increased, and this rose further in 2021 to then remain slightly lower.
Life expectancy increased
The life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 80.5 years for men and 83.3 years for women. This is three months more for men than the life expectancy in 2023, and one month less for women. On average, life expectancy increases slightly each year, but it did decline slightly at the beginning of the pandemic. Since 2022, life expectancy has been rising again. For men, it is now slightly higher than before the pandemic, while for women it is still slightly lower.
In 2024, 69.2 thousand people receiving care under the Long-term Care Act (Wlz), such as residents of nursing homes or disability care institutions, died. That was 3.2 thousand more than in 2023. The increase was largest among women aged 65 to 80 (7 percent) and among men aged 80 and older (8 percent). The number of deceased individuals receiving Wlz care also increased relatively: this increase (5 percent) is larger than the growth in the number of Wlz care recipients (2 percent).
New data regarding life expectancy at birth was also released. In 2024, it was 80.5 years for men and 83.3 years for women. This represents a three-month increase for men compared to 2023 and a one-month decrease for women.