MEXICO CITY- Mexico's death toll from the coronavirus pandemic is likely at least 60% higher than the confirmed number, putting it in excess of 300,000, according to government data.

Updated figuresn on excess mortality in a table published by Mexico's health ministry showed that by the end of the sixth week of this year, 294,287 fatalities "associated with COVID-19" had been registered on death certificates in Mexico.

That was 61.4% higher than the confirmed death toll of 182,301 given as a comparison in the same table.

That figure did not coincide precisely with a specific day from the health ministry's daily bulletins, but more than 25,000 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported since mid-February. As of Saturday, the ministry's confirmed toll stood at 201,429.

The Mexican government has long said that the country's real number of COVID-19 deaths was likely significantly higher than the confirmed toll, which is the third-highest in the world. 

Total excess deaths in Mexico during the pandemic stood at 417,002 by the sixth week of 2021, according to the data.

(Writing by Dave Graham Editing by Paul Simao) ((dave.graham@thomsonreuters.com; +52 55 5282 7146; Reuters Messaging: dave.graham.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))