Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Excess deaths in Australia in 2022 the worst in 70 years

NSW Ambulances park in the receiving bay for the Emergency Department at the Liverpool Hospital in Sydney.

There was a 12 per cent increase in excess deaths in Australia in 2022. Source: AAP / BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE

SBS News In Depth
View Podcast Series

Follow and Subscribe

Apple Podcasts Spotify Listnr Download (4.81MB)
Download the SBS Audio appAvailable on iOS and Android

A research study has found Australia recorded nearly 20,000 more deaths than expected last year, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis by the Actuaries Institute found the number is the highest recorded in Australia since World War II.

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.

Share

Latest podcast episodes

Jim Chalmers - SBS interview.png
Health minister Mark Butler (SBS).jpg
AI Ethics Religion
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, and One Nation Member for Farrer David Farley speak to supporters after winning the Farrer by-election at the party reception in Albury, NSW.

Recommended for you

Graphic art showing Donald Trump (centre) holding up a bible in his right hand. Behind him and facing left is a man in a suit. Behind Trump and facing right is the Pope Leo, wearing red vestments and a white cap
A composite image of different properties and Australian currency
A graphic showing US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping standing infront of a Chinese flag and the Strait of Hormuz.
A colourful assortment of fruits and vegetables.
A stylised image of two men in the foreground, with the one on the right leaning against a white ute. There's a sheep at a solar farm in the background.
A composite image showing a fire at an oil refinery in the foreground, with a black and white image in the background of an older oil refinery with a ripped paper effect through the middle.
A medium shot depicts Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump, both wearing suits, leaning in towards one another to share a private word over a table against a blue backdrop featuring a “Board of Peace“ logo.
Five Australian soldiers in khaki ceremonial dress marching

Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world