The Alarming Rise of Excess Deaths in Ireland
**Last Updated on 1st December 2024
Introduction
In recent years, Ireland has witnessed a concerning surge in excess deaths. These are the number of fatalities/deaths in a given period that surpass the average of the pre-pandemic years of 2015-2019. This page aims to delves into the data.
Understanding Excess Deaths
Excess deaths serve as a crucial metric to gauge the health and well-being of a nation. They represent the difference between the observed and expected number of deaths in a specific timeframe. Various methods, including a five-year rolling average, are employed to calculate these figures.
The Startling Numbers
According to data from the General Register Office (GRO) and RIP.ie, Ireland has experienced a significant rise in excess deaths since 2021:
• 2021: A rise of 14.8% or 4,600 excess RIP.ie death notices.
• 2022: A rise of 18.1% or 5,600 excess RIP.ie death notices.
• 2023: A rise of 18.7% or 5,800 excess RIP.ie death notices.
• 2024: A rise of 18.1% or 5,100 excess RIP.ie death notices.
In total, there has been over 21,200 excess RIP.ie death notices from 2021 to 2024, and the numbers continue to climb.