New Delhi, May 14 -- The latest World Health Statistical Report again underlined higher volumes of excess deaths during Covid-19 pandemic with the report estimating 22.1 million excess deaths having occurred between 2020 and 2023, over three times the documented 7 million deaths.

Excess mortality was highest in 2021, with 10.4 million deaths, as more lethal variants emerged and health systems faced severe strain, before declining to 3.3 million deaths in 2023. Men consistently saw higher excess mortality than women, with age-standardised mortality rates about 50% higher in men than women at the 2021 peak.

A strong age gradient was also apparent; excess mortality rose sharply in older adults and was 10 times higher in people 85 years and...