You're reading: Number of deaths in Ukraine in September grows by 15.4%

In Ukraine, some 426,690 people died in January-September, which is 2.3% less than in the same period last year, and 220,660 were born, which is 5.4% less year-over-year, the State Statistics Service reported on Nov. 2o, citing data from the Ministry of Justice. Meanwhile, in September there was a significant increase in the number of deaths compared to September last year – by 15.4%, to 48,370 people.

September became the third month this year, when the number of deaths exceeded last year’s data: the first was June with 8.4%, and the second was August with 3.9%.

At the same time, the June indicator could be associated with an unusually sharp decrease in mortality in May 2020 – by 16.9% compared to May 2019, and could be explained by strong fluctuations in statistics for May-June last year.

The number of newborns in September also increased as compared to September last year – by 7.3%, to 27,520.

According to the State Statistics Service, in the first nine months of this year, 4,300, or 1%, died from COVID-19. However, in September, the share of this cause of death increased to 3.6%, and the total number of deaths from the new disease was 1,740.

According to the Ministry of Health, in October COVID-19 became the cause of death for 3,110 people, and in 19 days of November – 3,290 people, which means that in November its share of the total number of deaths may already exceed 10%.

The main cause of death in the first nine months of this year, according to the State Statistics Service, remained ischemic heart disease – 199,100, or 46.7%, and in general, diseases of the circulatory system became the cause of death in 67.4% of cases.

Some 57,980 people (13.6%) died from cancer in January-September, 5,290 from infectious and parasitic diseases (including about 2,250 from tuberculosis and AIDS), and 17,270 from diseases of the digestive system.

External causes led to the death of 20,700, including 4,710 of deliberate self-harm, and 2,750 in transport accidents.