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India Confirms 2 Million Excess Deaths in 2021, Exposing Massive Covid-19 Undercount

Newly released government data reveals a 26% rise in registered deaths and a sixfold underreporting of Covid-19 fatalities during the pandemic's deadliest year.

People in PPE kits during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
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The numbers were released in three reports released on Wednesday by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs. (HT Archive)

Overview

  • The Registrar General of India (RGI) released delayed 2021 reports confirming 2.1 million excess deaths, marking the deadliest year of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.
  • Official data shows 10.2 million registered deaths in 2021, up from 8.1 million in 2020, reflecting a 26% increase in mortality.
  • The crude death rate rose sharply to 7.5 per 1,000 population in 2021, compared to 6.0 in 2020 and 6.2 in pre-pandemic years.
  • State-reported Covid-19 deaths in 2021 totaled just 333,333, significantly lower than the 2.1 million excess deaths, indicating a 6.4-fold underreporting.
  • The delayed release of the Sample Registration System, Civil Registration System, and Medical Certification of Cause of Death reports closes years of uncertainty about India's true pandemic toll.