According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), preliminary data revealed on Tuesday that approximately 270,000 people died in Germany during the first quarter of 2026. The expected impact of respiratory illnesses during winter months was relatively minor during this period. Mortality figures generally hovered around the mid-range values observed over the previous four years, or even below them. The most significant exception was a notable increase in deaths in mid-January, with increases of seven and eight percent recorded in calendar weeks two and three, respectively. Comparing the figures to the average of the years 2022 to 2025, the deviation for January was a positive three percent, for February it was positive one percent, and for March it was negative eleven percent. Furthermore, other indicators published by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for classifying this year’s flu outbreak also suggest levels at or below those seen in previous pre-season periods.
In addition, the EuroMOMO network monitors mortality trends by calculating excess mortality across Europe, drawing from incomplete reports and employing its own concept. For the first quarter of 2026, most European countries recorded notable deviations from expected patterns, especially at the beginning of the year. For instance, France and Spain registered periods of “high excess mortality” in January, while Portugal even recorded “very high excess mortality”. Many other countries also reported moderate deviations from typical patterns extending through March 2026.
