In which month do Belarusians die most often?

Illustrative archive photo

Monthly mortality data for Belarus can be found in the UN database. We analyzed the period from 2002 to 2019 (after 2020, statistics could be distorted by coronavirus and falsification of information). Note that information for 2006 and 2010 is missing (as well as for 2000 and 2001, which is why they were not included in the period).

1. January — 194,716 (393 per day)
2. March — 187,508 (391 per day)
3. December — 180,388 (364 per day)
4. October — 180,090 (363 per day)
5. May — 178,613 (360 per day)
6. April — 175,342 (365 per day)
7. February — 170,655 (378 per day)
8. November — 169,911 (354 per day)
9. July — 163,992 (331 per day)
10. June — 160,653 (335 per day)
11. September — 160,445 (334 per day)
12. August — 157,966 (318 per day)

January proved to be the undisputed leader in the number of recorded deaths. In 10 out of 16 years, this month took the first place.

The second peak is March. This month became the leader five times (in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2018). Once — in 2012 — December was the absolute leader in mortality.

There seem to be fewer deaths in February, but only because it has the fewest days.

The summer months (June, July, August) and September are the "happiest." The reason here is that in summer, people are less likely to suffer from flu and other viral respiratory infections, which often cause severe complications in older people.

Why January?

The phenomenon of increased mortality in January is often explained by a combination of climatic, biological, and social factors that reinforce each other. In scientific literature, low temperatures and cold periods are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications and mortality, especially in vulnerable groups.

One of the key mechanisms is considered to be the stressful impact of cold on the cardiovascular system: cold causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), which can lead to increased blood pressure and increased strain on the heart; changes in blood clotting factors are also described, potentially increasing the risk of blood clots.

An epidemiological component is added to this. For the Northern Hemisphere, a winter surge in acute respiratory infections is a common phenomenon. Severe forms of such diseases can increase the risk of complications in people with chronic illnesses and be associated with increased mortality from heart and vascular diseases.

The "holiday effect" is also described separately. The period of New Year and Christmas holidays is often accompanied by excessive strain on the body: alcohol abuse and heavy, fatty foods. This creates dangerous stress for the liver, pancreas, and heart.

Moreover, during holidays, people are psychologically inclined to ignore alarming symptoms, delaying seeking medical attention so as not to spoil the mood of loved ones. As a result, many patients arrive at hospitals with significant delay, when assistance becomes less effective.

An additional factor is the external environment: ice on the streets increases the risk of severe injuries, especially among the elderly, and the need for intensive heating of homes increases the possibility of fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

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