Gitnux/Report 2026

Covid Death Statistics

WHO estimated 14.9 million global excess deaths linked to COVID-19 in 2020–2021—see how that reshapes the death count.
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July 18, 2026Updated
Covid Death Statistics
Emilia SantosWritten by Emilia Santos·Edited by Margot Villeneuve·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove
Published ·Updated
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As of September 2024: July 2026: June 2026, the UK alone reported 232,115 COVID-19 deaths, and the pattern behind those totals is anything but uniform. From age and sex to obesity, chronic disease, and long term care, this post assembles key Covid death statistics from CDC, WHO, and other major public health sources to show where risk concentrated and why.

Key Takeaways

  • Over 75% of US COVID-19 deaths were among adults aged 65+ per CDC data through 2022
  • Males accounted for 55.5% of US COVID-19 deaths versus 44.5% females as of 2023 per CDC
  • Globally, 80% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in people over 60 years old per WHO
  • UK reported 232,115 COVID-19 deaths as of September 2024: July 2026: June 2026 per UKHSA
  • Germany cumulative COVID-19 deaths reached 174,979 by late 2023 per RKI
  • France recorded 168,091 COVID-19 deaths as of 2024 per Santé Publique France
  • WHO estimated global excess mortality at 14.9 million for 2020-2021, primarily COVID-related
  • US excess deaths totaled 1.27 million from March 2020 to May 2023 per CDC
  • The Economist tracker estimated 18.2 million global excess deaths due to COVID by end-2022
  • As of March 2023: July 2026: June 2026, the World Health Organization reported a global total of 6,917,976 confirmed COVID-19 deaths worldwide
  • Johns Hopkins University dashboard indicated 6,860,498 global COVID-19 deaths as of December 2022: July 2026: June 2026
  • Our World in Data recorded 18,456,923 excess deaths globally attributable to COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2022
  • Global case fatality rate (CFR) for COVID-19 averaged 2.1% early pandemic per WHO
  • US infection fatality rate (IFR) estimated 0.6-1% overall per CDC models 2023
  • Italy first wave CFR hit 14% due to overwhelmed systems per ISS

Most US and global COVID deaths involved older adults, especially those with comorbidities, with major inequities.

Related reading

02 · Category

Demographic And Risk Factors26 stats

01
Over 75% of US COVID-19 deaths were among adults aged 65+ per CDC data through 2022
02
Males accounted for 55.5% of US COVID-19 deaths versus 44.5% females as of 2023 per CDC
03
Globally, 80% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in people over 60 years old per WHO
04
In the US, Hispanic/Latino population had 2x higher age-adjusted COVID-19 death rate than whites per CDC
05
Black/African Americans comprised 14.6% of US COVID-19 deaths despite 12.4% population share per CDC 2022
06
Obesity (BMI>=30) present in 50% of US COVID-19 hospitalizations and 62% of deaths per CDC
07
Diabetes was a comorbidity in 30-40% of global COVID-19 deaths per WHO
08
In Europe, 90% of COVID-19 deaths in over-65s during first wave per ECDC
09
US nursing home residents accounted for 13% of total COVID-19 deaths despite 0.6% population per CMS
10
Cardiovascular disease comorbidity in 40% of COVID-19 deaths globally per WHO
11
In India, 70% of COVID-19 deaths male-dominated per MoHFW analysis
12
US Native Americans/Alaska Natives had 2.1x death rate vs whites per CDC
13
Globally, chronic respiratory diseases linked to 15% of COVID-19 deaths per WHO
14
In Brazil, 60% of COVID-19 deaths in over-60s per Ministério da Saúde
15
Hypertension present in 50% of US COVID-19 decedents per CDC
16
Females over 85 had highest US COVID-19 death rate at 1,200 per 100k per CDC
17
Cancer patients 2-3x higher COVID-19 mortality risk per global meta-analysis
18
In UK, BAME groups had 2x higher COVID-19 death rates per ONS
19
Dementia prevalent in 20% of US COVID-19 deaths per CDC
20
Pregnant women had 1.7x higher COVID-19 mortality in some countries per WHO
21
In Italy, 95% of COVID-19 deaths had 3+ comorbidities per ISS
22
US males aged 75-84 peak death group with 800+ per 100k per CDC
23
Smoking associated with 1.8x higher COVID-19 death risk globally per WHO
24
In France, 85% of deaths over 65 per Santé Publique France
25
CKD comorbidity in 25% of global COVID-19 deaths per Lancet study
26
Global CFR for under-20s <0.01% vs 10%+ over 80 per WHO
Interpretation

Demographic And Risk Factors Interpretation

The demographic and risk pattern is clear as older age and cardiometabolic vulnerability dominate outcomes, with over 75% of US COVID-19 deaths among adults 65+ and obesity linked to 62% of deaths, while within these higher risk groups men and several racial and ethnic disparities remain pronounced.

03 · Category

Us Statistics26 stats

01
US CDC reported 1,160,614 COVID-19 deaths as of May 2023: June 2026
02
By December 2022, US cumulative COVID-19 deaths exceeded 1,080,000 per CDC dashboard
03
Johns Hopkins noted 1,071,584 US COVID-19 deaths by end of 2022
04
Excess deaths in US from COVID-19 totaled 1.3 million by mid-2023 per CDC
05
New York State reported 82,439 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per NY DOH
06
California cumulative COVID-19 deaths reached 110,000+ by late 2023 per CA Dept of Public Health
07
Texas recorded over 90,000 COVID-19 deaths by December 2023 per TX DSHS
08
Florida tallied 88,519 COVID-19 deaths as of May 2023: June 2026 per FL DOH
09
US daily COVID-19 deaths peaked at 4,469 on January 12, 2021 per CDC
10
CDC reported 20% of US COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes totaling ~180,000 by 2022
11
By mid-2021, US deaths surpassed 600,000 per White House data
12
Illinois COVID-19 deaths totaled 36,651 as of 2023 per IDPH
13
Pennsylvania recorded 49,278 COVID-19 deaths by end-2022 per PA DOH
14
Michigan cumulative deaths 36,592 by 2023 per MDHHS
15
US COVID-19 deaths in 2020 totaled 385,000 per CDC provisional data
16
Excess mortality in US 2020 was 522,368 including COVID per CDC
17
Georgia reported 33,979 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per GA DPH
18
Ohio tallied 41,000+ COVID-19 deaths by late 2023 per ODH
19
US weekly deaths averaged 2,000 in Omicron wave 2022 per CDC
20
Massachusetts COVID-19 deaths reached 25,000+ by 2023 per MA DPH
21
New Jersey recorded 36,000+ COVID-19 deaths per NJ DOH
22
CDC noted 1.1 million total US deaths by January 2023
23
Arizona cumulative COVID-19 deaths over 34,000 by 2023 per AZ DPH
24
US COVID-19 mortality rate 332 per 100,000 population as of 2023 per CDC
25
Indiana reported 24,000+ COVID-19 deaths per IN DOH
26
Connecticut tallied 11,000+ COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per CT DPH
Interpretation

Us Statistics Interpretation

For US statistics, the death toll climbed to well over 1.08 million by December 2022 and reached about 1.16 million by May 2023, with CDC also estimating roughly 1.3 million excess deaths from COVID by mid 2023, showing the impact continued to widen even as official totals moved forward.

More related reading

04 · Category

Excess Mortality25 stats

01
WHO estimated global excess mortality at 14.9 million for 2020-2021, primarily COVID-related
02
US excess deaths totaled 1.27 million from March 2020 to May 2023 per CDC
03
The Economist tracker estimated 18.2 million global excess deaths due to COVID by end-2022
04
India excess mortality 4.07 million during pandemic waves per Science study
05
Peru had highest excess mortality rate globally at 0.59% population per The Economist
06
UK excess deaths 2020-2022 totaled 240,000 per ONS
07
Russia official excess deaths 800k+ in 2021 alone per Rosstat
08
Mexico excess mortality 640k vs 330k reported COVID deaths per IHME
09
Brazil excess deaths 711k during pandemic per Fiocruz
10
Global excess mortality ratio peaked at 1.5x expected in late 2020 per WHO
11
US 2020 excess deaths 40% above COVID reported per CDC
12
Indonesia excess mortality estimated 1.5 million vs 150k reported per Airlangga University
13
Germany excess deaths minimal at 5% above baseline due to reporting per Destatis
14
South Africa excess deaths 3x reported COVID total per SAMRC
15
Italy 2020 excess deaths 140k vs 75k COVID per ISTAT
16
Global underreporting factor averaged 2.7x per IHME models to 2022
17
Ecuador excess mortality 5x reported with 40k+ extra per INEC
18
Chile excess deaths aligned closely with 60k reported per MINSAL
19
Australia minimal excess deaths <10k despite 20k reported due to controls per ABS
20
Colombia excess mortality 200k+ vs 140k COVID per DNP
21
Peru 2021 excess deaths 190k in months per INEI
22
Canada excess deaths 50k+ 2020-2022 per StatCan
23
Global excess P-score peaked at 50% above expected in India 2021 per The Economist
24
US non-COVID excess deaths rose 20% in 2020 per CDC
25
WHO global excess for 2020 alone 4.74 million modeled
Interpretation

Excess Mortality Interpretation

Across major countries and global estimates, excess mortality numbers paint a consistent picture of far more COVID impact than official case counts suggest, from 14.9 million excess deaths worldwide in 2020 to 2021 to 1.27 million in the US and 240,000 in the UK during 2020 to 2022.

05 · Category

European Countries22 stats

01
UK reported 232,115 COVID-19 deaths as of September 2024: June 2026 per UKHSA
02
Germany cumulative COVID-19 deaths reached 174,979 by late 2023 per RKI
03
France recorded 168,091 COVID-19 deaths as of 2024 per Santé Publique France
04
Italy tallied 197,307 COVID-19 deaths by September 2024 per ISS
05
Spain reported 121,852 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per Ministerio de Sanidad
06
Russia cumulative deaths 403,994 by end-2023 per Rosstat adjusted
07
Poland recorded 120,753 COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per MZ
08
Netherlands tallied 22,986 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per RIVM
09
Sweden reported 27,399 COVID-19 deaths by late 2023 per FHM
10
Belgium cumulative deaths 33,976 by 2023 per Sciensano
11
Portugal recorded 30,024 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per DGS
12
Ukraine tallied 108,058 COVID-19 deaths pre-war by 2022 per MoH
13
Switzerland reported 18,390 COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per FOPH
14
Austria cumulative deaths 22,150 by late 2023 perAGES
15
Romania recorded 68,270 COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per INSP
16
Hungary tallied 49,181 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per NNK
17
Czechia reported 43,045 COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per SZU
18
Greece cumulative deaths 39,370 by late 2023 per NPHO
19
Denmark recorded 9,433 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per SSI
20
Norway tallied 5,732 COVID-19 deaths by 2023 per FHI
21
Finland reported 11,993 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per THL
22
Ireland cumulative deaths 30,873 by late 2023 per HPSC
Interpretation

European Countries Interpretation

Across European countries, recorded cumulative COVID-19 deaths varied widely, from 121,852 in Spain to 403,994 in Russia by the end of 2023, showing how the pandemic’s overall impact differed greatly across the region.

06 · Category

Overview30 stats

01
Global case fatality rate (CFR) for COVID-19 averaged 2.1% early pandemic per WHO
02
US infection fatality rate (IFR) estimated 0.6-1% overall per CDC models 2023
03
Italy first wave CFR hit 14% due to overwhelmed systems per ISS
04
Global CFR dropped to <1% by 2022 with vaccines/Omicron per Our World in Data
05
Peru highest national CFR 0.65% cumulative per Worldometer
06
UK CFR 2.7% through 2022 per ONS
07
US age-adjusted mortality rate 300 per 100k population per CDC
08
Brazil CFR peaked at 4.7% Delta wave per Ministério da Saúde
09
India official CFR <1% but excess suggests higher true rate per studies
10
Germany low CFR 1.8% due to testing/reporting per RKI
11
Global IFR for over-80s 9-15% per Imperial College London
12
Sweden CFR 2.2% no-lockdown strategy per FHM
13
Mexico CFR 8% highest in Americas early on per SSA
14
Omicron variant global CFR <0.3% vs Delta 1% per WHO
15
US CFR 1.8% cumulative per Worldometer
16
China reported CFR 0.9% official but questioned per NHC
17
France CFR 2.4% per Santé Publique France
18
Vaccine effectiveness against death 90%+ post-Delta per CDC
19
Global crude mortality rate 0.09% population per WHO
20
Japan CFR 0.5% low due to demographics per MHLW
21
South Africa CFR 3.5% early high per NICD
22
Brazil reported 704,689 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per Ministério da Saúde
23
India cumulative deaths officially 530,790 by end-2022 per MoHFW
24
Mexico tallied 334,836 COVID-19 deaths by late 2023 per SSA
25
Peru recorded 221,668 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per MINSA
26
Russia adjusted excess deaths 1.1 million COVID-related by 2022 per Rosstat
27
Indonesia cumulative deaths 162,042 by 2023 per Kemenkes
28
Iran reported 146,539 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per MoHME
29
Colombia tallied 138,790 COVID-19 deaths by late 2023 per MinSalud
30
Argentina recorded 130,785 COVID-19 deaths as of 2023 per MSAL
Interpretation

Industry Overview Interpretation

From a WHO early pandemic average CFR of 2.1% to well under 1% globally by 2022, the Industry Overview takeaway is that better healthcare capacity and interventions like vaccines and Omicron appear to have driven a dramatic drop in fatality risk, even as national estimates still vary such as 14% in Italy’s first wave and 0.65% in Peru.
Reference

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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Covid Death Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/covid-death-statistics
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Emilia Santos. "Covid Death Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/covid-death-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Covid Death Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/covid-death-statistics.

Sources & references

84 datasets cited across this report

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