Kuwait City: In 2020, the number of deaths increased drastically in Kuwait by about 40 per cent, Al Rai reported.
Compared to the previous year, the increase of deaths in 2020 were as a result of the COVID-19. Although the pandemic has resulted in more deaths, without counting the fatalities from the virus the number of deaths have risen by 28 per cent.
According to a report published by Al Rai that is based on official figures from the Funeral Affairs Department at Kuwait’s Municipality, deaths among non-Kuwaitis went up by 60.5 per cent compared to 2019.
While the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the main reasons, there was an increase in suicides amongst non-Kuwaitis due to the financial and social burdens that occurred due to the pandemic.
Highest increase
In terms of non-Kuwaitis, the highest increase in deaths was amongst men with an increase of 88 per cent. As for children, the number actually decreased for both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti children, with an average of 3.75 per cent decrease.
The cemeteries also witnessed a jump of 48.6 per cent in burials. Although not all bodies were buried in Kuwait, due to travel restrictions deaths that were processed outside the country decreased by 8.8 per cent.
While burials in cemeteries continued they were limited to family members to reduce large gatherings.