Respiratory Diseases Surge in France as COVID-19 Declines

A new report reveals that respiratory illnesses became the third leading cause of death in 2022, surpassing COVID-19, which fell to the fifth position.

In 2022, France recorded over 673,000 deaths, an increase from the previous two years despite the decline in COVID-19 fatalities.
Respiratory diseases, excluding COVID-19, rose significantly, driven by winter epidemics like flu and RSV, accounting for 6.7% of all deaths.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death, responsible for over a quarter of fatalities, with lung, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers being the most lethal.
Cardiovascular diseases are the second leading cause, with mortality rates increasing, particularly among women and those over 85.
Deaths from accidents, particularly falls and domestic incidents, have also risen, marking a notable increase in mortality from external causes.