Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Jacob Rawley

WHO ranks UK at 56th in Covid-19 deaths as worldwide toll could be 15million

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that Britain has ranked 56th for Covid-19 deaths as the true global toll could be close to 15million people, according to a new report.

The report, which tracked 'global excess deaths associated with COVID-19' between January of 2020 until December of 2021, showed that the UK ranks lower than other countries in Europe such as Italy and Spain.

At the top of the table was Peru, which had 437 excess fatalities per 100,000 people. Britain, meanwhile had 109 per 100,000.

The report revealed that the global death toll could be between 13.3million and 16.6million with countries under-counting Covid-19 deaths.

This is nearly three times higher than the official count which is currently 6.2million.

The WHO said 20 countries, including the UK and the US, accounted for more than 80 per cent of the estimated 'excess deaths' over the first two years of the pandemic.

WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the figure 'sobering' and asks nations to invest more in health services to ensure a crisis like this does not occur again.

Britain's ranking was lower than other countries due to our "early access to the vaccines" according to Dr Simon Clarke, a University of Reading biologist.

The data set, which is one of the most comprehensive so far, features telling metrics.

As well as national metrics, it covers 'reported deaths and excess mortality in World Bank income groups' which uncovers trends that "help us understand how the income level of countries may have affected COVID-19 impact and response" according to the report.

The report comes as restrictions have eased in Scotland as well as other countries on the list.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.