The preliminary statistics have now been updated up to and including 29 May this year. Statistics Sweden compares the preliminary statistics on deaths with the average for corresponding periods in 2015-2019. Levels that are higher than the average are known as excess mortality.

According to preliminary statistics, excess mortality in week 21 (ending 24 May) was 14 percent above the average in 2015–2019.

“That is the lowest level of excess mortality since week 13, when excess mortality was 227 deaths, equivalent to 13 percent. Excess mortality was at a peak in weeks 15 and 16,” says Tomas Johansson, statistician at Statistics Sweden.

At the national level, the number of deaths was highest in week 15, in early April, and has now been adjusted to 2 562. The following week, there were 2 515 deaths registered. This corresponds to an excess mortality of 47 percent and 44 percent for weeks 15 and 16 respectively.

“The highest relative excess mortality is now noted among men in the age group 90 and above,” says Tomas Johansson.

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

Further statistics on deaths is available in Eurostat’s database. In addition to Sweden’s statistics, Eurostat’s database contains corresponding figures for many other EU countries.

Facts: Preliminary statistics

Statistics Sweden’s preliminary statistics on deaths have been produced to provide rapid access to developments during the coronavirus outbreak, and to enable comparison with previous years. The statistics are reported on Mondays 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.
These statistics do not list the cause of death, but rather present the number of deaths among people registered in the population in Sweden.

Links:

Preliminary statistics on deaths (Excel file)

Read more articles at scb.se on how the coronavirus outbreak is affecting society

Statistics on deaths available at Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office