The World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest World Health Statistics 2024 report reveals the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global life expectancy and health progress. Released today, the report outlines how nearly a decade of steady improvements in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy (HALE) were reversed in just two years, marking a significant setback in global health.
A Decade of Progress Wiped Out
From 2019 to 2021, the world saw a dramatic decline in life expectancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The global average life expectancy dropped by 1.8 years, falling from 73.2 years in 2019 to 71.4 years in 2021—effectively reversing progress back to levels seen in 2012. Similarly, healthy life expectancy, which measures the years a person can expect to live in good health, also fell by 1.5 years during the same period, dropping to 61.9 years in 2021.
This regression represents a significant setback after years of gradual improvement in health outcomes across the world. The WHO’s 2024 report also highlights that the effects of the pandemic were felt unevenly, with some regions suffering more than others. The Americas and South-East Asia experienced the most severe declines, with life expectancy dropping by around three years and healthy life expectancy by 2.5 years. In contrast, the Western Pacific Region saw minimal declines, losing less than 0.1 years in life expectancy and 0.2 years in healthy life expectancy during the first two years of the pandemic.
The Fragility of Health Progress
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized how quickly health gains can be undone. “There continues to be major progress in global health, with billions of people enjoying better health, better access to services, and better protection from health emergencies,” Dr. Tedros stated. “But we must remember how fragile progress can be. In just two years, the COVID-19 pandemic erased a decade of gains in life expectancy.”
Dr. Tedros underscored the importance of the new Pandemic Agreement, designed to strengthen global health security, protect long-term investments in health, and promote equity between and within countries.
COVID-19 and the Leading Causes of Death
COVID-19 emerged as one of the deadliest global threats during the pandemic. It became the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2020 and the second in 2021, with nearly 13 million lives lost during these two years. In most regions, including the Americas, COVID-19 was one of the top five causes of death and even ranked as the leading cause in 2020 and 2021.
The WHO report also shows that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases remained the leading causes of death before and during the pandemic. In 2019, NCDs accounted for 74% of all deaths worldwide. Even during the pandemic, NCDs were responsible for 78% of non-COVID deaths, highlighting the continued toll of chronic health conditions.
The Growing Challenge of Malnutrition
In addition to the life expectancy decline, the WHO report stresses the ongoing double burden of malnutrition across the world. In 2022, more than one billion people aged five years and older were living with obesity, while over half a billion were underweight. Childhood malnutrition remains a pressing concern, with 148 million children under the age of five affected by stunting, 45 million suffering from wasting, and 37 million considered overweight.
The report calls for renewed efforts to address both undernutrition and obesity, which have long-term consequences for global health and well-being.
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Health Inequities for Vulnerable Populations
Vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, refugees, and migrants, face disproportionate challenges in accessing healthcare. According to the report, about 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have disabilities, and these individuals are often subject to inequities in healthcare access. Additionally, only half of the 84 countries surveyed between 2018 and 2021 offered government-funded health services to refugees and migrants at the same level as citizens.
This highlights an urgent need for health systems to adapt to meet the needs of these populations, ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all.
Progress and Setbacks Towards the SDGs
While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted progress, the WHO report acknowledges some positive developments in global health. Since 2018, an additional 1.5 billion people have achieved better health and well-being. However, rising rates of obesity, high tobacco use, and persistent air pollution remain significant barriers to achieving further progress.
The report also notes that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) expanded to 585 million more people since 2018, but this figure falls short of the WHO’s goal of providing UHC to an additional one billion people by 2023. Similarly, efforts to protect people during health emergencies have lagged, with only 777 million more people projected to have adequate protection by 2025, far short of the one billion target.
Looking Ahead
As global health leaders reflect on the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent call for countries to redouble efforts to meet the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Dr. Samira Asma, WHO Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact, emphasized the need for better use of data to accelerate progress. “Without accelerating progress, it is unlikely that any of the health SDGs will be met by 2030,” she cautioned.
The World Health Statistics 2024 report serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of the pandemic and the ongoing work needed to recover lost ground in global health progress.
