New Delhi: A new report by the World Health Organization has estimated that nearly 22.1 million excess deaths worldwide were linked to the Covid-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2023, revealing the broader human cost of the global health crisis beyond officially reported Covid fatalities.
According to the report, excess deaths refer to the number of fatalities recorded above what would normally be expected during a particular period. These deaths include not only direct Covid infections but also indirect fatalities caused by overwhelmed healthcare systems, delayed medical treatment, reduced emergency care access and disruptions in routine health services.
The WHO analysis found that many countries lacked reliable mortality reporting systems during the pandemic years, making it difficult to accurately track the full scale of deaths. By the end of 2025, only 18 percent of countries were submitting mortality data to the WHO within a year, while nearly one third had never reported detailed cause of death data at all.
The report further revealed that only around one third of countries currently meet WHO standards for high quality mortality reporting. A significant number of nations either maintain low quality data systems or have no dependable death registration mechanisms in place.
Out of an estimated 61 million deaths recorded globally in 2023, only about one third included proper cause of death information. Even fewer were supported by meaningful International Classification of Diseases coded data, highlighting serious gaps in global health surveillance.
Health experts say the actual pandemic toll was likely far higher than official Covid death figures reported by several countries. Limited testing capacity, deaths occurring outside hospitals and inconsistent reporting standards contributed to undercounting during peak waves of infection.
The report also highlighted how healthcare disruptions during the pandemic affected treatment for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, vaccination programmes and mental health services, potentially leading to additional indirect deaths.
According to experts, excess mortality estimates play a crucial role in understanding the true scale of health emergencies, improving pandemic preparedness and strengthening healthcare systems worldwide. While the emergency phase of Covid-19 has eased in many regions, the virus continues to circulate globally, with experts still advising vaccination for vulnerable groups and continued monitoring of emerging variants.
