For five years in a row, Bulgaria ranks first in mortality in the entire European Union.
The data show that in 2020, better known as the year of the Covid pandemic, with an average mortality rate across the EU of 11.6 per mille, in Bulgaria the mortality rate was 19 per mille /‰/, or 15,433 deaths per 1,000 people, which is the highest figure in the entire EU. This year, the lowest mortality rate was in Ireland – 6.2 per mille and Luxembourg – 6.9.
In 2021, the mortality rate in Bulgaria jumped to 22.9 per mille, while the total number of deaths in the EU decreased to 11.6 per mille.
In 2022, the mortality rate in Bulgaria decreased to 18.4 per mille, but nevertheless remained the highest among all member states of the European Union.
In 2023 and 2024, the total mortality rate in Bulgaria was 15.7‰ . In 2024 alone, 100,736 people died, or 15.6‰. Although the mortality rate has decreased slightly compared to 2018, when the rate was 16.2‰, it remains the highest in Europe, where the average total mortality rate is 10.8‰ for 2023.
Child mortality is also 1.5 times higher than the average for Europe.
The next countries in terms of mortality in the EU after Bulgaria are Latvia, Hungary and Croatia.
Traditionally, the countries with the lowest mortality rates from 2020 to 2025 are Ireland and Luxembourg.