No excess deaths were recorded during the core pandemic years of 2020-2022 in Ireland, new research has shown.

Research published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that Ireland was one of nine OECD countries to avoid excess deaths during this period, registering the fourth lowest rate behind New Zealand, Iceland and Norway.

Excess deaths refer to the number of deaths from all causes during a period of time, above what would normally be expected.

The OECD measured the difference between the number of people who died between 2020 and 2022 and the number of people who would have been expected to die during that time if the pandemic had not happened. Excess death figures include those who died from Covid without having been tested as well as from other illnesses.  

The OECD reviewed the methodology used to calculate excess deaths and accounted for demographic trends in each country.

Ireland’s total population increased by 8% between the 2016 and 2022 census while the number of people aged 65 and over increased by 22% during the same period. This is more than double the 10% increase in the EU 27 countries in the same time period.

Adjusting mortality rates to take account of these changes has shown that Ireland did not record excess mortality during 2020-2022.