Shocking! Hungary has the 5th highest mortality rate in the EU

Latest Eurostat data reveals the countries with the highest mortality rates. It turns out that the ten European countries that have the highest mortality rates are all located either in Central or Eastern Europe. Naturally, the death counts are proportional to the countries’ population.

According to Kafkadesk, in 2016, 5.1 million people died in the EU, which is a number lower than the previous year’s data (meaning around 80 000 fewer deaths). Diseases of the circulatory system, such as heart attacks and strokes, cause more than a third of the total deaths. It is the main cause of death, causing 36% of the population’s passing away, which translates to 1.8 million people. Apart from Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France, it is the primary cause of death in EU countries. 

The secondary cause of death in Europe were types of cancers. These affect 26% of the population, meaning 1.3 million people.

Other diseases that contribute to the high mortality rates include diseases of the respiratory system (8%), accidents and other external causes of death (5%), diseases of the digestive system (4%), mental and behavioural diseases (4%), and diseases of the nervous system.

The countries with the highest mortality rates were all found in Central and Eastern Europe, with Bulgaria in the first place (over 1,600 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). The second place is jointly shared by Romania and Latvia (1,476 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), while the third place is occupied by Lithuania (1,455 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). 

Hungary is in the 5th place, with the mortality rate being at 1,425 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In addition, there is a visible difference between men (1,847 deaths per 100,000) and women (1,146 per 100,000).

Neighbouring countries are also high on the list, with Slovakia in 7th position (1,323 deaths per 100,000 people), Poland in 8th place (1,218 deaths per 100,000 people), and the Czech Republic in 9th place (1,205 deaths per 100,000 people). 

The EU average is 1,002 deaths per 100,000 people. This means that most Central and Eastern European countries are well above the EU average.

In general, it is true for most countries that the mortality rate was slightly higher for men than for women. 

In happier news, the countries with the lowest mortality rates are Spain (829 deaths per 100,000 people), France (838 deaths per 100,000 people), Italy (843/100,000), Malta (882/100,000), as well as Luxembourg (905/100,000).

Is Hungary one of the unhealthiest countries in Europe?