China's 2022 Death Rate Highest in Two Decades

Data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, compiled by Statista, shows a death rate of 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people in 2022.

This death rate increased from 7.18 deaths per 1,000 people in 2021. The 2022 figure is also the highest in the last two decades.

Looking at the trend, the death rate in China was 7.06 deaths per 1,000 in 2008. Since then, the death rate has consistently remained above 7 until the latest data in 2022.

The death rate in China was relatively low between 2000 and 2005, ranging from 6.4 to 6.51 deaths per 1,000 people during that period.

In its release, China's National Bureau of Statistics stated that at the end of 2022, the national population reached 1.41 billion. This is a decrease of 0.85 million compared to the end of 2021.

Of this total, the urban resident population numbered 920.71 million. In addition, there were 9.56 million births in 2022, with a crude birth rate of 6.77 per 1,000 people.

Correspondingly, there were 10.41 million deaths with a crude death rate of 7.37 per 1,000 people. The natural growth rate decreased to -0.60 per 1,000 people.

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Pneumonia in China

According to *Katadata*, the spread of pneumonia in China began in November 2023. Besides China, this lung disease has also been detected in Europe, with children predominantly affected.

Imran Pambudi, Director of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases at the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), stated that the pneumonia spreading in China is similar to that occurring in the general population due to bacterial infection. However, most pneumonia cases in China are caused by *Mycoplasma pneumoniae*.

*Mycoplasma* is a bacterium that causes respiratory infections and has a long incubation period. Therefore, the spread of this bacterium is not as rapid as the Covid-19 virus, resulting in low fatality rates.

The Ministry of Health urges the public not to panic about the spread of this disease. The Ministry has also implemented mitigation efforts. One of these is the issuance of Circular Letter Number PM.03.01/C/4632/2023 regarding Alertness to Mycoplasma Pneumonia Cases.

Through this letter, the Ministry of Health requests that health facilities and points of entry actively report findings of pneumonia cases. Reports are submitted through the Early Warning System and Event-Based Surveillance (SKDREBS)/Event-Based Surveillance (SBK) or to the PHEOC.

"We urge the Health Office, hospitals, and points of entry to immediately report any indication of cases pointing towards pneumonia," said Imran, as reported on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

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