A comprehensive study conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in the average life expectancy worldwide, plummeting by 1.6 years during the initial two years of the crisis. Published in The Lancet journal, the study marked a stark reversal from the decades-long trend of increasing global life expectancy.
Researchers, comprising hundreds of experts, noted that the pandemic’s impact on adult mortality surpassed that of any other event in the past 50 years, including conflicts and natural disasters. The analysis, spanning 204 countries and territories, demonstrated a notable increase in the death rate among individuals over 15, with men experiencing a 22% rise and women 17%.
Countries such as Mexico City, Peru, and Bolivia witnessed the most significant declines in life expectancy during the examined period. However, amid the grim statistics, there was a silver lining: the study reported half a million fewer deaths among children under five in 2021 compared to 2019, continuing a positive trend in child mortality reduction.
Despite the setback caused by the pandemic, the study emphasized that people are living longer lives compared to previous decades. Over the span of 71 years, from 1950 to 2021, the average global life expectancy at birth surged by 23 years, indicating substantial progress in healthcare and living conditions.
Covid-related deaths were estimated at a staggering 15.9 million during 2020-2021, encompassing both direct fatalities from the virus and those indirectly caused by pandemic-related disruptions. This figure exceeded previous estimates by the World Health Organization, highlighting the pandemic’s profound toll on global mortality rates.
Remarkably, certain countries like Barbados, New Zealand, and Antigua and Barbuda reported relatively low rates of excess deaths during the pandemic, partly attributed to their geographical isolation.
Moreover, the study shed light on the demographic shifts observed globally, where aging, affluent nations experienced population decline while less affluent countries continued to witness growth. This demographic imbalance is expected to pose unprecedented challenges, including labor shortages and resource scarcity, necessitating international cooperation and innovative solutions.
Lead author of the study, Austin Schumacher, stressed the urgency for collaborative efforts in managing population dynamics and addressing health disparities across nations, underscoring the need for proactive measures to mitigate future crises.