Deaths, 2021

Fewer deaths than in 2020

In 2021, 23,261 residents of Slovenia died. This was 3% fewer than in 2020, and 13% more than in 2019. 11 people died per 1,000 population. The number of deaths per 1,000 population was the highest in the Pomurska statistical region (13.6) and the lowest in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region (9.3).

11,841 men and 11,420 women died in 2021. For the first time since 2008, more men than women died again.

The mean age at death almost one year lower than a year before

The mean age at death in 2021 was 78.3 years and was 0.2 years higher than in 2019 and almost one year lower than in 2020, when mortality was strongly marked by the COVID-19 epidemic. The mean age at death for men was 74.6 years and for women 82.2 years.

Most deaths in January

64 people died per day on average in 2021. The month with the highest number of deaths was January (2,642 or 85 per day on average), especially in the first three weeks of the month. The day with the highest number of deaths was 17 January (113). In 2021, there were 4 days in which 100 or more people died (in 2020: 38).

Excess mortality (i.e. excess number of deaths compared to the average number of deaths in the same periods in the past) was 15%. This means that in 2021 15% (or 3,040) more people died compared to the 2015–2019 average.

Premature mortality is still in decline

Premature mortality tells how many persons die (in %) before 65 years of age. In 2021, the share of premature mortality was 15%. The share of premature mortality among men was 20.7% and is always higher than the share among women (9.1%) but is in decline for both sexes. Ten years ago (in 2011), the share of premature mortality of men was 29.4% and of women 12.7%.

Life expectancy at birth for boys in 2021 slightly lower than a year before

A boy born in 2021 can expect to live 77.63 years or 0.2 years less than in 2020. A girl born in the same year can expect to live 83.69 years or 0.3 years more than in 2020.

Low infant mortality rate

35 infants (22 boys and 13 girls) died in 2021, which is 1.8 per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate has been in decline in Slovenia. In the years after WW II, more than 50 infants died per 1,000 live births. In the last 15 years, infant mortality has fallen below 3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.

Natural decrease the second largest since 1945

In Slovenia, natural decrease has been recorded every year since 2017, as more people die each year than are born. Natural increase was recorded in 2021 only in two summer months. The value of natural increase in 2021 was −4,277 or −2.0 per 1,000 population.

Tables with the latest data on deaths and natural change of population are available in the SiStat Database.