What is it about?

This comprehensive study provides an analysis of global health demographics from 1950 to 2021, focusing on mortality, life expectancy, and population changes across 204 countries. A significant portion of the research is dedicated to understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-2021. It found that while child mortality rates continued to decrease, the pandemic reversed decades of progress in reducing adult mortality rates, increasing them for the first time in recent history. Life expectancy globally decreased by 1.6 years due to the pandemic. The study also notes significant population growth shifts, with the most substantial increases in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

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Why is it important?

This study stands out for its extensive coverage of global demographics over 72 years and its detailed examination of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact. By using a comprehensive set of demographic metrics, it reveals how the pandemic has not only reversed long-term trends in mortality and life expectancy but also influenced global population dynamics. These insights are crucial for policymakers and health practitioners to address future health challenges and adapt strategies for pandemic preparedness and public health planning.

Perspectives

This publication represents a pivotal contribution to understanding the vast and varied impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health trends. As a collaborator, I am particularly struck by the stark reversal in mortality improvements—a sobering reminder of the pandemic's devastating effects. The research underscores the importance of robust health systems and the need for international cooperation to manage global health crises. It also highlights the resilience of global health progress, offering hope and a basis for future strategies to mitigate such impacts and continue improving global health.

Mr Ferry Efendi
Universitas Airlangga

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden ..., The Lancet, March 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00476-8.
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