Global Life Expectancy Drops 1.6 Years Due to COVID-19

A major study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant global decline in life expectancy, with an average decrease of 1.6 years during 2020-2021. This marked a sharp reversal in the decades-long rise in global life expectancy, with 84 percent of countries experiencing declines. However, there was also progress, with half a million fewer children under five dying in 2021 compared to 2019. The study estimated 15.9 million excess deaths during the pandemic, and highlighted the unprecedented social, economic, and political challenges posed by shifting population dynamics.