Among the population who resided in France in 2022, 673,190 people died, a higher number than in 2020 and 2021, two years however strongly impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic. These dead people were on average older than in 2021, with a rate which increased sharply among people aged 85 and over. The mortality rate was stable compared to the previous year, all ages combined (886.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), and higher than that to which the continuation of downward trends over the period 2015-2019 would lead.
Still in 2022, tumors – in other words cancers – were the leading cause of death and accounted for a quarter of deaths. It should be noted that these deaths from cancer affected people on average younger than those who died from all causes combined. It should be noted that tumor mortality continued its downward trend and stabilized among women.
Cardio-neurovascular diseases (such as myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure) represented the second cause of death (20.8%). These disappearances generally concerned elderly people (in fact, this is the most common cause among those aged 85 and over). Between 2021 and 2022, mortality due to cardio-neurovascular diseases – which again takes into account the aging of the population, increased slightly among women, while it remained stable among men. As in 2021, this mortality was higher for all sexes and all ages combined, than suggested by the continuation of trends before the health crisis.
Deaths due to diseases of the respiratory system (excluding Covid-19) increased sharply and represented 6.7% of deaths, i.e. the 3rd cause of death in 2022. Mortality then approached its previous level. health crisis. Half of the people who died were 86 years old or older. The increase observed in 2022 could be partly explained by the two seasonal influenza epidemics 2021-22 and 2022-23 and the active circulation of other respiratory viruses.
Conversely, the number of deaths due to Covid-19 has decreased by almost a third compared to 2021 and has become the 5th cause of death. According to these new statistics, this decline could be largely explained by the achievement of high collective immunity at national and international level (broad vaccination coverage, less virulence of variants). This decline is expected to continue in 2023.
Also in 2022, the number of deaths due to external causes rose to 44,800, or 6.7% of deaths. External causes thus represented the second cause of mortality in people under 65, after tumors.
For the first time since 2020, mortality due to external causes, in particular accidents, was also significantly higher than suggested by the continuation of pre-health crisis trends. Mortality due to accidents has thus increased in all age groups, particularly among those over 85. This increase was driven by an increase in falls and domestic accidents. Deaths due to transport accidents have also increased without returning to the level before the health crisis.
The increase in mortality for the majority of other major causes continued in 2022, breaking with the downward trend observed before the Covid-19 health crisis. This is particularly the case for endocrine diseases and diseases of the digestive system.
Finally, the share of deaths in public health establishments continued to decrease, while those in accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) and at home increased.
*With the Inserm Center for Epidemiology of Medical Causes of Death (CépiDc-Inserm) and Santé Publique France, are analyzing the medical causes of death of residents and deaths in France in 2022.
