Federal Statistical Office: Cardiovascular diseases were the most common cause of death in 2022

Covid-19 was the main cause of death in around five percent of deaths in Germany last year. Compared to the previous year, the share was declining, as is the case Federal Statistical Office announced in its balance sheet on the causes of death in 2022. Accordingly, 52,357 deaths could be attributed to a corona infection.

In 2021, seven percent of deaths – a total of 71,331 – were still there Covid-19 attributed. Meanwhile, the number of citizens dying from pneumonia or the flu increased significantly. The proportion rose by almost 31 percent compared to the previous year to 18,498 deaths.

The number of fatal road traffic accidents increased

According to the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 1,066,341 people died last year, almost 43,000 more than the year before. According to statisticians, a good third of all deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease and a good fifth by cancer.

The number of people who died from mental illnesses or as a result of behavioral disorders also rose by 14.7 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year. Dementia accounts for more than three quarters of deaths in this disease group.

In 4.5 percent of all deaths in 2022 (47,912 deaths), a so-called external cause was the cause of death. This was an increase of 10.9 percent compared to the previous year. Falls were the cause of death in 20,311 cases. This also includes transport accidents in particular Road traffic accidents – increased by eight percent to 3,141 cases. Through suicide 10,119 people died.