“Although a total of 5.94 million deaths were reported between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, we estimate that 18.2 million died worldwide due to the Covid-19 pandemic - a measure by the excess of mortality - during this period”, advances the research already reviewed by peers.

Regarding Portugal, the study indicates 19,000 deaths reported by Covid-19 until December 31, a mortality rate by Covid-19 reported per 100,000 people of 94.8 and an estimated excess of deaths of 40,400.

The investigation also adds that excess death rates varied widely between regions, although the number of deaths resulting from the pandemic was much higher particularly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa than official records indicate.

“It is estimated that the excess mortality is 120 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants worldwide and that 21 countries have rates of more than 300 excess deaths per 100,000 inhabitants”, advance the conclusions of the investigation.

The highest estimated excess death rates were recorded in Latin America (512 deaths per 100,000 population), Eastern Europe (345 deaths), Central Europe (316), South Sub-Saharan Africa (309) and Central Latin America (274).