As of August 21, 2025, there have been approximately 7,098,868 confirmed deaths worldwide due to COVID-19. However, estimates that take likely COVID- induced excess deaths into account suggest the true toll could be between 19.1 million and 36 million deaths globally. The pandemic is considered one of the worst calamities in the 21st century in terms of loss of life, with a death toll comparable to major historic events like the Spanish flu and World War II.