Disturbing 72-year first triggered by Covid-19: 'This is sad'
Life expectancy around the world has dropped for the first time in more than half a century.
Two years after the pandemic hit, new analysis shows rates have tumbled.
According to the ONE Campaign, global life expectancy fell by 1.64 years between 2019 and 2021.
It’s the first time a decline has been reported since records began in 1950.
With a global food security crisis and the increasing impacts of climate change, experts warn the situation could get worse.
While a graph reveals life expectancy in the US is well behind the average of all other OECD developed nations.
In 2020, life expectancy at birth was 82.1 for comparable countries, while the US sat well behind at 77 years, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.
The US has been badly affected by Covid-19, recording more than one million deaths since the beginning of 2020.
In contrast, Japan led the world with a life expectancy of 84.7 years followed by Switzerland at 83.2.
Chart shows life expectancy for U.S. vs. average of all other @OECD developed countries; both dipped in 2020 thanks to COVID, but more interesting part is how gap between them has been widening over time@PetersonCHealth @KFF @CDCgov pic.twitter.com/uWh2xTi4P5
— Liz Ann Sonders (@LizAnnSonders) June 22, 2022
Liz Ann Sonders, an American investment strategist who shared the chart on social media, says life expectancy dipped in both the US and all over OECD developed countries in 2020 “thanks to Covid.”
“But [the] more interesting part is how [the] gap between them has been widening over time.”
Her tweet has since received hundreds of reactions.
“This is sad,” wrote strategist and writer Kyla Scanlon.
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While many highlighted the country’s “terrible and inefficient healthcare system” others were quick to point out what could be behind the decline.
“Horrid obesity problems, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, inner city violence and endemic drug problems,” one person wrote.
Many users also blamed the government for subsidizing agribusiness, allowing the fast food industry to produce “cheap caloric-dense foods.”
“Sadly in a country with great resources,” another added.
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