When life expectancy returned to the level before pandemic. Variations over 20 years between countries

Global life expectancy returned in 2023 to the levels recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing at 76.3 years for women and 71.5 years for men, according to Global Burden of Disease, a long-term study of mortality, informs DPA, taken by Agerpres.

Since 1950, life expectancy has increased by over 20 years for both sexes.

However, while mortality rates generally decreased, deaths among adolescents and young adults in North and South America have increased, mainly due to suicide and drug use, researchers led by Christopher Murray of Washington University in Seattle.

The data appeared on Sunday in The Lancet scientific journal. The new analysis is based on 310,000 sources of data from all over the world, the estimates being produced for 204 countries and territories.

Globally, women's life expectancy increased from 51.2 years in 1950 to 76.3 years in 2023, and that of men from 47.9 to 71.5 years.

According to an estimate published in May, based on study data, men born starting with 2050 will win on average 4.9 years of life, compared to 4.2 years for women.

The life expectancy continues to vary a lot, from about 83 for both sexes in high -income countries at about 62 in Subsahanian Africa.

Covid-19, the main cause of death worldwide in 2021, decreased in 20th place in 2023. Ischemic heart disease, or reducing blood flow to the heart, was the main cause of death, followed by stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Other main causes of death were infections of the lower respiratory tract, neonatal disorders, Alzheimer's disease, pulmonary cancer, diabetes and chronic renal disease.