In March 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy recorded the highest monthly number of deaths across the period January 2019-October 2024. The number of individuals who died in March 2020 was 86,500. Another critical month was November 2020, when 78,500 deaths were reported. By contrast, in September 2019, 46,500 deaths were recorded, the lowest number of fatalities within the past five years. The deaths registered from February to June 2024 were the lowest since 2019.

The total number of deaths increased overall in recent years in Italy. In 2023, approximately 671,000 died in Italy, compared to about 715,000 in 2022.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, the number of deaths in Italy remained rather stable. In 2020, on the contrary, the death rate reached 12.5 per 1,000 inhabitants, a notable increase compared to previous years. Four years after the pandemic, the figure remains above 10 deaths per 1,000 residents. From the perspective of the single regions, the highest number of deaths was registered in Liguria, whereas the lowest death rate in the country was reported in Trentino-Alto Adige. Coronavirus in Italy In Italy, the first cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were registered at the end of January 2020. Then, since the end of February, the virus started to spread among the Italian population. Data on the infected patients show that COVID-19 has hit every age group uniformly, but the mortality rate appears to be much higher for elderly patients. Death rates in Europe Despite being the fourth-largest country in Europe in terms of population size, Italy was the state with the second-highest number of deaths, preceded only by Germany, the most populated country on the continent.

Context

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, and following the measures adopted by the Government to contain it, Istat has implemented a series of actions to ensure the continuity and quality of statistical production even in the emergency situation.

Content

TheThe Italian National Institute of Statistics has reorganized data collection by sustainable acquisition techniques, innovative methodologies and use of data sources; it also provided most appropriate solutions to support statistical production processes, in full protection of workers’ health.

Official statistics are fundamental for measuring the evolution of economy and society; their production and dissemination at the service of institutions, policy-makers, families and businesses, therefore, cannot be stopped, but need to be rethought to be ready to provide the country with all necessary answers, and above all to support and monitor the future country’s recovery.

Reference period: 01/01-04/04, Years 2015-2020. Collected data thanks to Istat Survey Deaths of resident population, that uses administrative source to collect main individual characteristics of deaths, and to processing ANPR (National Resident Population Register) source data for deaths referring to the 2020 year.

Processing data of municipalities (1,689) where ANPR data are considered reliable and migrated in ANPR database before January 1st, 2020.

Record: 1. CODES NUTS2 = Istat code of NUTS2
2. CODES NUTS3 = Istat code of NUTS3 3. CODES_NUTS3_LAU2 = Istat code of LAU2 4. NUTS 2 = Region of residence 5. NUTS 3 = Province of residence 6. LAU 2 = Municipality of residence 7. DATA_INIZIO_DIFF = Date of first dissemination of data in 2020 8. WEEK= Week of death (first considered period, from January 1st to January 11th, is 11 days) 9. AGE CLASS = Age class at the time of death 10. MALES_2015: total male deaths in 2015 11. MALES_2016: total male deaths in 2016 12. MALES_2017: total male deaths in 2017 13. MALES_2018: total male deaths in 2018 14. MALES_2019: total male deaths in 2019 15. MALES_2020: total male deaths in 2020 16. FEMALES_2015: total female deaths in 2015 17. FEMALES_2016: total female deaths in 2016 18. FEMALES_2017: total female deaths in 2017 19. FEMALES_2018: total female deaths in 2018 20. FEMALES_2019: total female deaths in 2019 21. FEMALES_2020: total female deaths in 2020 22. TOTAL_2015: total deaths in 2015 23. TOTAL_2016: total deaths in 2016 24. TOTAL_2017: total deaths in 2017 25. TOTAL_2018: total deaths in 2018 26. TOTAL_2019: total deaths in 2019 27. TOTAL_2020: total deaths in 2020

Acknowledgements

https://www.istat.it

https://www.istat.it/en/archivio/240106

Inspiration

These data also provides most appropriate solutions to support statistical production processes, in full protection of workers’ health.

In 2024, the Italian region with the highest death rate was Liguria. By contrast, Trentino-South Tyrol was the area where the lowest death rate was registered in the whole country. In the period between 2010 and 2019, the annual death rate in Italy remained rather stable. In 2020, instead, the death rate increased compared to previous years. Coronavirus deaths In Italy, the first cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were registered at the end of January 2020. Then, since the end of February, the virus started to spread among the Italian population. As of October 2021, Italy recorded 4.7 million cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and over 130,000 deaths. Death rates in other European countries In 2019, Italy was the European country which registered the second-highest number of deaths. The state with the highest number of deceased was Germany, which is also the most populous country on the continent. On the contrary, Italy ranked only fourth, considering the size of the population.

Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 15-19 Years data was reported at 616.000 Person in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 614.000 Person for 2018. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 15-19 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 1,063.000 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,384.000 Person in 1990 and a record low of 597.000 Person in 2016. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 15-19 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of deaths of adolescents ages 15-19 years; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum; Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

Cause of death, by injury (% of total) in Italy was reported at 3.8567 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Italy - Cause of death, by injury (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Italy recorded 4081902 Coronavirus Recovered since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, Italy reported 135178 Coronavirus Deaths. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Italy Coronavirus Recovered.

In March 2020 Italy recorded the highest monthly number of deaths across the period January 2019 - July 2021. The number of individuals who died in March 2020 was 86.5 thousand, the majority of which was male (44 thousand). By contrast, September 2019, when 45.8 thousand deaths were recorded, was the month with the lowest number of fatalities. In that month, the majority of individuals who died were female.

Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 20-24 Years data was reported at 929.000 Person in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 925.000 Person for 2018. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 20-24 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 1,646.000 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,347.000 Person in 1991 and a record low of 912.000 Person in 2016. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 20-24 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of deaths of youths ages 20-24 years; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum; Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

Time series data for the statistic Cause of death, by communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, ages 60+ (% of population ages 60+) and country Italy. Indicator Definition:Number of deaths ages 60+ due to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions divided by number of all deaths ages 60+, expressed by percentage. Communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions included infectious and parasitic diseases, respiratory infections, and nutritional deficiencies such as underweight and stunting.

Female adult mortality rate of Italy climb by 1.23% from 37.5 deaths per 1,000 female adults in 2020 to 37.9 deaths per 1,000 female adults in 2021. Since the 2.63% decrease in 2019, female adult mortality rate jumped by 6.77% in 2021. Adult mortality rate is the probability of dying between the ages of 15 and 60--that is, the probability of a 15-year-old dying before reaching age 60, if subject to current age-specific mortality rates between those ages.

Time series data for the statistic Cause of death, by injury, ages 15-59, male (% of male population ages 15-59) and country Italy. Indicator Definition:Number of male deaths ages 15-59 due to injury divided by number of all male deaths ages 15-59, expressed by percentage. Injury includes unintentional and intentional injuries.

Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 5-9 Years data was reported at 205.000 Person in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 207.000 Person for 2018. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 5-9 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 272.500 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2019, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 523.000 Person in 1992 and a record low of 204.000 Person in 2016. Italy IT: Number of Deaths Ages 5-9 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Number of deaths of children ages 5-9 years; ; Estimates developed by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, UN DESA Population Division) at www.childmortality.org.; Sum; Aggregate data for LIC, UMC, LMC, HIC are computed based on the groupings for the World Bank fiscal year in which the data was released by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

This Project Tycho dataset includes a CSV file with COVID-19 data reported in ITALY: 2019-12-30 - 2021-07-31. It contains counts of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations. Data for this Project Tycho dataset comes from: "COVID-19 Data Repository by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University", "Presidenzia del Consiglio dei Ministri Dipartimento della Protezione Civile GitHub Repository", "European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Website", "World Health Organization COVID-19 Dashboard". The data have been pre-processed into the standard Project Tycho data format v1.1.

WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: To-Date: Italy data was reported at 193,743.000 Person in 24 Dec 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 193,743.000 Person for 23 Dec 2023. WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: To-Date: Italy data is updated daily, averaging 139,151.500 Person from Jan 2020 (Median) to 24 Dec 2023, with 1426 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 193,743.000 Person in 24 Dec 2023 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 22 Feb 2020. WHO: COVID-2019: Number of Patients: Death: To-Date: Italy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Health Organization. The data is categorized under High Frequency Database’s Disease Outbreaks – Table WHO.D002: World Health Organization: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019): by Country and Region (Discontinued). Due to some inclusions and exclusions of cases that are not properly reflected in WHO report, which are the result of the retrospective adjustments of national authorities, some current day “To-date” figures will not tally to the sum of previous day “To-date” cases and current day new reported cases. Figures with excluded cases are relatively lower compared to the previous day.

Background: Italy has one of the world's oldest populations, and suffered one the highest death tolls from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Older people with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and in particular hypertension, are at higher risk of hospitalization and death for COVID-19. Whether hypertension medications may increase the risk for death in older COVID 19 inpatients at the highest risk for the disease is currently unknown.Methods: Data from 5,625 COVID-19 inpatients were manually extracted from medical charts from 61 hospitals across Italy. From the initial 5,625 patients, 3,179 were included in the study as they were either discharged or deceased at the time of the data analysis. Primary outcome was inpatient death or recovery. Mixed effects logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, age, and number of comorbidities, with a random effect for site.Results: A large proportion of participating inpatients were ≥65 years old (58%), male (68%), non-smokers (93%) with comorbidities (66%). Each additional comorbidity increased the risk of death by 35% [adjOR = 1.35 (1.2, 1.5) p < 0.001]. Use of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers or Ca-antagonists was not associated with significantly increased risk of death. There was a marginal negative association between ARB use and death, and a marginal positive association between diuretic use and death.Conclusions: This Italian nationwide observational study of COVID-19 inpatients, the majority of which ≥65 years old, indicates that there is a linear direct relationship between the number of comorbidities and the risk of death. Among CVDs, hypertension and pre-existing cardiomyopathy were significantly associated with risk of death. The use of hypertension medications reported to be safe in younger cohorts, do not contribute significantly to increased COVID-19 related deaths in an older population that suffered one of the highest death tolls worldwide.

Coronavirus caused many deaths in Italy, leading to *** of the highest death rates worldwide. When comparing the number of deaths occurred between ******* and *******, 2020 with the average number of deaths during the same period of the years 2015 to 2019, it can be seen that the former was significantly higher. In fact, a total of approximately ** thousand individuals died between ******* and ******* 2020, while it amounted to roughly ** thousand during the same period of the years 2015 to 2019. For a global overview visit Statista's webpage exclusively dedicated to coronavirus, its development, and its impact.

Time series data for the statistic Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases, ages 0-4 (% of population ages 0-4) and country Italy. Indicator Definition:Number of deaths ages 0-4 due to non-communicable diseases divided by number of all deaths ages 0-4, expressed by percentage. Non-Communicable diseases include cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, skin diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and congenital anomalies.

Time series data for the statistic Cause of death, by non-communicable diseases, ages 60+, female (% of female population ages 60+) and country Italy. Indicator Definition:Number of female deaths ages 60+ due to non-communicable diseases divided by number of all female deaths ages 60+, expressed by percentage. Non-Communicable diseases include cancer, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, digestive diseases, skin diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and congenital anomalies.