January 3 is the day to be most wary of. The risk of dying on this date is 20% higher than on an average dayaccording to a study published by INSEE on Wednesday October 30 (on average 1,900 deaths, every January 3, between 2004 and 2023).
No fatality therefore, but two rational explanations to put forward: first, we die more in winterthe coldest months (namely December, January and February). Seasonal viruses like the flu circulate more, weakening the elderly. Not to mention that little bit of post-holiday blues (the effect is felt in the number of deaths).
The desire to spend the holidays with loved ones, but also to start a new year, could delay the death of people at the end of their lives, according to INSEE.
INSEE also learns that the risk of dying remains greater on your birthday (since 1994, the average number of deaths on one's birthday is +6% higher than the rest of the year). Young people are particularly affected by this phenomenon : the figure reaches +21% for people aged 18 to 29. Road accidents and cardiovascular problems are more common.
August 15 remains the least deadly day of the yearbecause summer day and public holiday (on average, public holidays are less deadly than other days of the year).
Read more