From the 4.9 million deaths reported in the European Union (EU) in 2014, 118 300 were due to pneumonia. Women (59 900 deaths) and men (58 400 deaths) were almost equally affected. 90% of these deaths concerned people aged over 65.
In absolute terms, the United Kingdom (28 200 deaths, or 24% of the EU total) was the Member State that recorded the most deaths from pneumonia in 2014, followed by Germany (16 700, 14%), Poland (12 300, 10%), France (11 100, 9%), Italy (9 100, 8%) and Spain (8 400, 7%).
However, for a relevant country comparison, these absolute numbers need to be adjusted to the size and structure of the population.
Death rate from pneumonia highest in Portugal and the United Kingdom, lowest in Finland
With nearly 55 deaths from pneumonia per 100 000 inhabitants, Portugal registered the highest rate among the EU Member States. It was followed by the United Kingdom (49), Slovakia (45) and Poland (43). At the opposite of the scale, the lowest rate of deaths due to pneumonia was recorded in Finland (with 4 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants), ahead of Greece and Austria (both 9), Hungary (10) and Croatia (11). At EU level, the rate stood on average at 25 deaths from pneumonia per 100 000 inhabitants in 2014.
The source datasets can be found here (rate) and here (absolute number).
This news item marks World Pneumonia Day (12 November).