Study reveals excess mortality in Bosnia’s Federation during Covid-19 pandemic

The study examines mortality data in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) from 2020 to 2022, revealing that actual deaths significantly exceeded officially reported Covid-19 fatalities, particularly among younger adults. Researchers estimate that around 12,000 excess deaths occurred during this period—almost 20% more than expected.

The highest excess mortality was recorded in 2021, during the rapid spread of the Delta variant, with deaths exceeding expected levels by over 30%. The most affected age group was 45 to 74 years, with men experiencing higher mortality rates. In contrast, no excess mortality was observed among children under 15.

The research team included experts from the Public Health Institute of FBiH, the FBiH Institute of Statistics, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the EuroMOMO center at Denmark's Statens Serum Institut.

Dr. Erwin Cooreman, WHO representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized the study’s significance:

"These findings highlight the profound impact of Covid-19 on public health and underscore the need to strengthen surveillance and preparedness systems."

Lead author Dr. Seila Cilovic-Lagarija stressed the importance of enhanced death registration systems to improve pandemic response, while the study also called for timely and widely accessible public health measures, including vaccination, to reduce preventable deaths.

The study was co-financed by the European Union, with contributions from 12 researchers, including experts from Bosnia and abroad.