An estimated 221,706 Latinos in the U.S. have lost their lives due to COVID-19

Oct 28, 2021

COVID-19 deaths are a key indicator to track the evolution of the pandemic. However, many countries still lack functioning civil registration and vital statistics systems with the capacity to provide accurate, complete and timely data on births, deaths and causes of death.

Excess mortality is defined as the difference in the total number of deaths in a crisis compared to those expected under normal conditions. COVID-19 excess mortality accounts for both the total number of deaths directly attributed to the virus as well as the indirect impact, such as disruption to essential health services or travel disruptions.

Official Death Toll From COVID-19

Total number of deaths: 730,368

Latinos make up 17.7% of total population

Total number of deaths (Expected) for Latinos: 730,368 x 17.7% = 129,275

Updated Death Toll Based on Recently Published Excess Death Data

Total: 1,252,581

Latinos: 1,252,581 x17.7% = 221,706

An estimated 221,000 Latinos in the U.S. have lost their lives due to COVID-19.

• As of today (10/31/2021), in the US there have been:
  • 730,368 COVID-19 deathsn the U.S.
    • <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html>
  • 741,231 COVID-19 deaths
    • <https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality>
  • 762,437 COVID-19 deaths
    • <https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/>
• Excess deaths were estimated as the number of deaths observed in 2020 minus the number of deaths expected in 2020 if deaths divided by population size were the same as in 2019.
• Between March and December 2020, 477,200 excess deaths occurred, with 74% attributed to COVID-19.
• 351,400 (74%) excess deaths had COVID-19 as the underlying cause.
• At the end of December 2020 the official death count was thought to be 341,199
• 341,199/477,200 = 0.715
• In other words, 71.5% more people died than thought
  • <https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-2134>