Australia’s Excess Mortality More Than Halved in 2023: Report

A new report has shown the number of excess deaths in Australia reduced by more than half in 2023 as the country overcame the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In its latest research paper (pdf), the Actuaries Institute, a peak professional body, estimated that there were around 8,400 excess deaths in Australia last year, down from nearly 20,000 in 2022. Excess death refers to a situation where deaths from all diagnosed causes (including COVID-19) were higher than expected numbers based on historical data. Among the 8,400 cases, the Institute said COVID-19 was the underlying cause of 4,600 deaths (55 percent) while being a contributing factor to another 1,500 deaths (18 percent)....