The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 represents a public health crisis without recent precedent, both in terms of its health and societal impact and in terms of the exceptional management and prevention measures that were implemented to curb the spread of the virus among the population. The Covid-19 vaccination campaign, which began on December 27, 2020, did not, however, take place in 2020.

COVID-19, 69,000 deaths in 2020

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic directly caused the deaths of 69,000 people in France (10.4% of all deaths), making it the third leading cause of death behind cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The most common causes of death in 2020 remained cancer (25.6%) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (20.2%).
Just over half of Covid-19 victims were 85 years of age or older. While Covid-19 deaths affect men and women equally, men have a mortality rate twice that of women at comparable ages. This excess mortality among men compared to women is not specific to Covid-19 but applies to most causes of death. It is, however, slightly more pronounced for Covid-19.

A Decline in Non-COVID-19 Mortality

The mortality rate for causes other than COVID-19 has declined. Compared to the 2015–2017 period, mortality from tumors, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nervous system diseases, and mental and behavioral disorders has decreased, particularly among people aged 85 and older. Part of this decline could be explained by the fact that some people who would have died during the year from these diseases may have died instead from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, the preventive measures implemented as part of the health crisis response may have had a protective effect, partly explaining the observed decline in mortality from respiratory or infectious diseases (excluding COVID-19) as well as from transportation accidents. This partly explains why the number of excess deaths for 2020 compared to previous years—47,000—is lower than the 69,000 deaths with COVID-19 identified as the underlying medical cause. Other short- or medium-term impacts of this pandemic and its context cannot be ruled out.

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View publications and related data

• Naouri, D., Fouillet, A., Ghosn, W., Coudin, E., (December 2022). COVID-19: Third Leading Cause of Death in France in 2020, While Other Major Causes of Death Decline. DREES, Studies and Results, 1250.

• Fouillet A, Ghosn W, Naouri D, Coudin E. COVID-19: Third Leading Cause of Death in France in 2020, While Other Major Causes Decline. Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin. 2022;(Cov_16):2-12.

• Table A1 – CépiDc – Inserm website: www.cepidc.inserm.fr

About DREES

Established by the decree of November 30, 1998, the Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics (DREES) is part of the Public Statistical Service (SSP), alongside INSEE and other ministerial statistical agencies. Its role is to provide reliable information and analyses in the fields of social affairs and health. For over 20 years, DREES’s work has been guided by an ethical commitment whose principles—codified and shared at the European level—are professional independence, a commitment to quality, respect for statistical confidentiality, impartiality, and objectivity. DREES is also a ministerial statistical service whose primary mission is to support and evaluate public social and health policies.

About Santé publique France

Santé publique France addresses the need for a center of reference and expertise in public health in France. Based on the continuum between knowledge and intervention, our mission is to improve and protect the health of the population. Our work addresses major public health challenges over the long term, in the areas of protection against threats (including infectious risks, environmental risks, etc.) on the one hand, and health improvement (health determinants, prevention, health promotion, and reducing the burden of chronic diseases, social and regional inequalities, etc.) on the other. Santé publique France is a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health.