24th Mar 2022
The age-standardised death rate1 five years ago, in 2017, was 563* per 100,000 persons. This has been decreasing steadily to 519* per 100,000 in 2020, even though 2020 was a COVID-19 year. However, in 2021, the age-standardised death rate rose to 557 per 100,000 persons, comparable to that in 2017 (refer to the Annex).
2. The increase is not unexpected, given that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a health crisis which has killed many millions of people in the world. Singapore, however, has recorded one of the lowest rates of excess deaths2 in the COVID-19 pandemic from international comparisons so far.
3. The total excess deaths due to COVID-19 will require further analysis and breakdown of the numbers. We are still undergoing the Omicron wave. When this wave subsides, the Ministry of Health plans to consolidate the data, and provide a fuller report and analysis on excess deaths due to COVID-19.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
24 MARCH 2022
[1] The age-standardised death rate is a summary indicator that removes the influence of the population’s age structure.
[2] Excess deaths refers to the increase in rates or counts of deaths from all causes during a period of crisis compared to that expected under normal conditions.
*Note: The stated age-standardised death rate figures for 2017 and 2020 were updated on 29 March 2022.