On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund (CNS) released statistics detailing the leading causes of death in Luxembourg for 2023.
According to the data, an average of twelve individuals pass away each day within the Grand Duchy, with a total of 4,260 deaths recorded over the year.
The findings indicate that tumours remain the primary cause of mortality in Luxembourg, surpassing both circulatory and respiratory diseases. “Collectively, these two categories account for 51.8% of all deaths in the country,” confirmed the Ministry of Health.
Among men, lung cancer is the most common cause of death, followed by prostate, pancreatic, and liver or intrahepatic bile duct cancers. For women, breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, trailed by lung and pancreatic cancers.
Diseases affecting the circulatory system ranked as the second most common cause of death, contributing to 1,100 fatalities (comprising 592 women and 508 men), representing 25.8% of the total deaths recorded (compared to 1,104 deaths, also 25.8%, in 2022).
Respiratory diseases were listed as the third leading cause, followed by external factors, mental and behavioural disorders, and diseases of the nervous system, according to the Ministry of Health.
The data also revealed seasonal variations in mortality, with January witnessing the highest number of deaths at 447, while July saw the lowest with 301 fatalities.
The vast majority of deaths, 93.6%, were attributed to natural causes, whereas 6.4% were due to external factors.
Overall, the number of deaths in 2023 was marginally lower than the previous year, decreasing by 25. The average age at death stood at 75 years for men and 81 years for women.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health provided insights into where these deaths occurred. Most took place in hospitals (53.3%), followed by retirement homes (26.8%), and private residences (17.1%).
LINK: Joint statement by the Ministry of Health and the CNS [FR]
Twelve deaths a day: The main causes of death in Luxembourg (19 December 2023)
2021 health report: Cancer now the leading cause of death in Luxembourg
