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Excess mortality and COVID-19 in Sweden in 2020: A demographic account

Kolk, Martin; Drefahl, Sven; Wallace, Matthew; Andersson, Gunnar

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Authors

Martin Kolk

Sven Drefahl

Gunnar Andersson



Abstract

In this study, we provide an account of mortality levels in Sweden in 2020, focusing on both excess mortality and mortality due to COVID-19 deaths.We present various measures of life expectancy for women and men based on age-specific death rates in 2020. Our measures of excess mortality are based on comparisons with benchmarks derived from a previous mortality forecast for 2020 by Statistics Sweden and observed average mortality rates during 2017–2019. We present data on regional and seasonal variation in excess mortality, as well as estimates of Years of Potential Life Lost due to COVID-19. We decompose excess mortality in 2020 into excess mortality due to COVID-19 and excess mortality attributable to other causes. We also provide some estimates on the impact of excess mortality in 2020 on the remaining life expectancy for different cohorts of women and men in Sweden. We demonstrate that the impact of COVID-19 mortality was concentrated at higher ages, and among men in particular. Conversely, some younger age groups experienced negative excess mortality. The mortality changes during 2020 caused life expectancy levels to revert back to those observed in 2018 for women and in 2017 for men.

Citation

Kolk, M., Drefahl, S., Wallace, M., & Andersson, G. (2022). Excess mortality and COVID-19 in Sweden in 2020: A demographic account. Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 20, 317-348. https://doi.org/10.1553/populationyearbook2022.res2.2

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 1, 2022
Publication Date Dec 12, 2022
Deposit Date Oct 7, 2024
Publicly Available Date Oct 7, 2024
Journal Vienna Yearbook of Population Research
Print ISSN 1728-4414
Publisher Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Pages 317-348
DOI https://doi.org/10.1553/populationyearbook2022.res2.2