Counting on Each Other: How can we fight the spread of COVID-19 when half of deaths worldwide go unrecorded?

The article is part of a series in which OECD experts and thought leaders address the COVID-19 crisis, discussing and developing solutions now and for the future. It aims to foster the fruitful exchange of expertise and perspectives across fields to help us rise to this critical challenge. As the article points out, “Estimates suggest that worldwide about half of all deaths and their causes go unregistered, and unrecorded deaths tend especially to be those of women.” Read the article to learn about how excess deaths (the number of deaths from all causes during a crisis above and beyond what one would have expected to see in normal years) have been a guide to understanding the impact of COVID-19, and why investing in strong CRVS systems is now more critical than ever.