Last year, 6,380 people living in Reunion Island have died, i.e. 630 more deaths than in 2021 and 1,310 more deaths than in 2019 (+25,9 %), according to INSEE. This increase is primarily explained by the continued aging of the population. : the large generations of the baby boom of the 1950s have been reaching old ages in recent years. It is amplified in 2022 by the epidemic crisis. 530 deaths occurring in hospital in 2022 concern people positive for Covid-19. In comparison, there were 370 in 2021 and 50 in 2020. 55% of them suffered from comorbidities (diabetes, heart disease…). The increase in deaths is particularly marked in January and February 2022 (+56% compared to 2019), during the period when the incidence and hospitalization rates due to Covid-19 reached their highest level on the island since the start of the pandemic. As at national level, the increase in mortality affects populations aged 65 or over more. Deaths increase most sharply for those aged 75 or over (+35 %). For 65-74 year olds, the increase in deaths is less strong (+32 %, i.e. 305 more deaths than in 2019). As at national level, the number of deaths of people under 50 is almost stable compared to 2019.
At the same time, notes INSEE, the number of births continued to decline. Consequently, the natural balance – difference between births and deaths – remains positive, but decreases further and amounts to +6,810 in 2022, the lowest level since 1951.
Sharp increase in deaths in 2022
