Between December 6, 2025 and January 21 of this year, 20,505 people died in Portugal. Compared to the same period last year, there were 3,928 more deaths.
From the beginning of December until mid-January, almost four thousand more people died in Portugal than in the same period the previous year, making the country the only country in Europe with a moderate excess of deaths.
The intense cold and the flu epidemic appear as the most likely causes for this increase in mortality, which mainly affected people over 65 years of age. However, experts warn that there are other factors that may have contributed to this number, which does not depend solely on access to healthcare.
“There is social vulnerability, energy poverty and lack of housing conditions, also associated with isolation and loneliness, particularly for older and vulnerable individuals, which can mean that the bill charged in terms of population at these times is much higher than in other countries with which we compare”, stated Bernardo Gomes, president of the National Association of Public Health Doctors.
Between December 6, 2025 and January 21 of this year, 20,505 people died in Portugal. Compared to the same period last year, a further 3,928 deaths were recorded.
Public health doctors defend the need for further study to understand the causes of this excess mortality. In the European context, Portugal stood out as the country with the highest moderate excess of deaths.
“The greatest initial impact was actually in the north and center of the country, later extending, as time progressed, to other regions. Looking at this reality requires a broader analysis. It is advisable that, if we want to have different results, we analyze the situation from the perspective of the entire Government, namely other ministries that can contribute to reducing conditions of social vulnerability”, added Bernardo Gomes.
According to data from the Instituto Doutor Ricardo Jorge, cases of flu and respiratory infections are already decreasing.
