The preliminary statistics are now updated up to and including 24 April. In week 15, the number of deaths registered was 2 505 (on average 358 per day). This is almost 150 deaths more than the second highest number of deaths in a week, which was 2 364 deaths in the first week of 2000.

This is followed by weeks 14 and 16 this year, with 2 354 and 2 310 deaths respectively.

“It is important to clearly emphasise that these are preliminary statistics and that the mortality for the most recent weeks, in particular, will be revised upwards,” says Tomas Johansson at the Population and Economic Welfare Unit at Statistics Sweden.

High mortality in several counties

Mortality in Stockholm County remains high. In weeks 14–16, the number of deaths were twice as many compared to the weekly average in the period 2015–2019.

During the same weeks, six new counties noted 50 percent higher mortality than the weekly average in 2015–2019. These were the counties of Uppsala, Södermanland, Östergötland, Gotland, Västmanland, and Dalarna.

More than 300 deaths overall were registered in Sweden each day between 30 March and 17 April. The highest daily number of deaths to date was noted on 8 April, with 380 deaths.

Sundbyberg was the municipality with the highest excess mortality in the period 21 March–20 April. Other municipalities with high mortality in the same period include Borlänge, Salem, Sollentuna, and Gnesta.

“Three times as many deaths were registered in 2020 than the average for 2015–2019 in both Sundbyberg and Borlänge,” says Tomas Johansson.

In the Excel file, these statistics are also presented region and municipality, and broken down by sex and age.

Preliminary statistics on deaths (Excel file)

Facts: Preliminary statistics

Statistics Sweden’s preliminary statistics on deaths are produced to provide rapid access to developments during the coronavirus outbreak, and to enable comparison with previous years. The statistics are reported on ordinary business days and should be regarded as raw data. These statistics are updated as new data is made available, as there is a lag in reporting, in particular for the days closest to publication.

Statistics from two weeks ago are not expected to change substantially. Previous years’ statistics are based on Statistics Sweden’s final observation register. Only persons whose date of death is known are included in the above calculations.