Excess mortality in Europe estimated by EuroMOMO during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous influenza seasons

Important questions remain regarding differences in geographical and age-specific mortality patterns as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in consecutive waves, and how COVID-19 mortality compares to seasonal influenza. In a pandemic situation, excess all-cause mortality provides a more complete and robust measure than cause-specific mortality. Data submitted by 26 countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring (EuroMOMO) network between 2020 and 2023 was analysed to quantify excess all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess mortality from this period was compared to previous influenza seasons from 2014 to 2019. Pooled estimates of excess mortality showed four main waves during the COVID-19 pandemic period, most markedly in people aged 65 years and above, with timing and magnitude that varied between countries. Here we show that prior to implementation of control measures and COVID-19 vaccination, excess mortality greatly exceeded typical seasonal influenza mortality, but later during the pandemic was at levels comparable to influenza.

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Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67981-1
Primary Topic
COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Excess mortality in Europe estimated by EuroMOMO during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous influenza seasons

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Excess mortality in Europe estimated by EuroMOMO during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous influenza seasons

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article en

Abstract

Important questions remain regarding differences in geographical and age-specific mortality patterns as the COVID-19 pandemic evolved in consecutive waves, and how COVID-19 mortality compares to seasonal influenza. In a pandemic situation, excess all-cause mortality provides a more complete and robust measure than cause-specific mortality. Data submitted by 26 countries participating in the European Mortality Monitoring (EuroMOMO) network between 2020 and 2023 was analysed to quantify excess all-cause mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Excess mortality from this period was compared to previous influenza seasons from 2014 to 2019. Pooled estimates of excess mortality showed four main waves during the COVID-19 pandemic period, most markedly in people aged 65 years and above, with timing and magnitude that varied between countries. Here we show that prior to implementation of control measures and COVID-19 vaccination, excess mortality greatly exceeded typical seasonal influenza mortality, but later during the pandemic was at levels comparable to influenza.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 17(1)
Statens Serum Institut (DK), Federal Statistical Office (CH), Public Health Agency of Sweden (SE), Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (ES), Environment Agency (GB), European University Cyprus (CY), Robert Koch Institute (DE), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES), Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI), ASL Roma (IT), Santé Publique France (FR), World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (DK), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LU), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL), Public Health Scotland (GB), National Institute of Public Health (SI), Public Health Agency (GB), Health Protection Surveillance Centre (IE), Ministry for Health (MT), Ministry of Health (CY), National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (PT), Sciensano (Belgium) (BE), Institut thématique Santé Publique (FR), National Institute for Health Development (EE), National Public Health Organization (GR), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES), Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 3 (IT), Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AT), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SE)
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 86%
COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
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